10 Fun Facts About North Carolina
Every state has its quirks, and North Carolina is no different. The Tar Heel State is home to some of the most fascinating tidbits of history, making for a long list of exciting facts. Here are 10 fun facts about North Carolina that make it stand out from the rest.
1.The tallest brick lighthouse
North Carolina is home to Cape Hatteras, the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. Original construction was in 1802 and it stands at 210 feet-tall, with a range of 24 nautical miles.
2.The first English-born child in America
Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America, was born in Roanoke, NC in 1587. What ever became of Dare is a mystery, and she’s become a significant figure in American myth and folklore.
3.Birthplace of Pepsi
This widely-popular soft drink was created in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1893. The creator, Caleb Bradhem, made it as his drugstore and originally called it “Brad’s Drink.”
4.The first flight
The Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight in 1903 in North Carolina at Kill Devil Hills.
5.Sweet, sweet potatoes
North Carolina’s state vegetable is the sweet potato, and the state is the biggest sweet potato producer in the country. The state has held the top spot in production for over four decades.
6.The famous Biltmore Estate
Asheville, North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate, with more than 250 rooms, is the largest private home in the United States.
7.The first public university
America’s first public university was the University of North Carolina, known today as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Today, the university has a total enrollment of nearly 30,000 students.
8.The Great Bambino
Babe Ruth hit his first professional homerun in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1914.
9.Separation from England
North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England, on May 20, 1775.
10.Shipwreck central
The Outer Banks of North Carolina are known as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic” because more than a thousand shipwrecks have been discovered in the area.
