FUN FACTS ABOUT SYMBOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA

THE STATE BIRD IS A THE STATE FLOWER IS THE STATE TREE IS THE CARDINAL THE DOGWOOD PINUS PALUSTRIS STATE FLAG

The flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the center thereof a white star with the letter "N" in gilt on the left and the letter "C" in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one third the width of said union. STATE NICKNAME

• North Carolina has two familiar nicknames: The Tar Heel State and The Old North State (North Carolina's state song also has the title and theme of "Old North State").

• The Tar Heel State-Less clear is the origin of the nickname Tar Heel State. Most historians agree that the nickname stems from North Carolina's long history as a producer of naval stores (tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine from the state's extensive pine forests). North Carolina was a world leader in naval stores production from about 1720 to 1870.

• The Old North State-In 1710 the Carolina colony was divided, when Edward Hyde was appointed by the Lords Proprietors to be "...Governour for North Carolina Independent of the Governour of South Carolina." The southern part was called South Carolina and the older, northern settlement North Carolina. This was when the nickname "Old North State" was born. FUN FACTS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA

• The Wright brothers completed the first successful flight of a mechanically propelled airplane over the sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.

• The first known miniature golf course was in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

• Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville on March 7, 1914.

• The first Krispy Kreme Doughnuts was opened in Winston Salem, North Carolina FUN FACTS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA, CONTINUED

• The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is the largest private house in the world, with 250 rooms.

• Cabarrus County, North Carolina, was the site of America's first gold rush.

• The first state art museum in the country is located in Raleigh.

• The first Pepsi was created and served in New Bern, North Carolina in 1898.

• The World War II battleship 'North Carolina' is permanently berthed on the River at Wilmington. She was saved from the scrap heap in the 1960's by public subscription, including donations of dimes by schoolchildren PLACES TO VISIT

The Temple Theatre was built in 1925 by Mr. Robert Ingram, Sr. (owner of the Sanford Coca Cola Bottling) at a time when Sanford had a population of only 3,500. Located half a block from the railroad station, the theatre was a frequent stop for the shows and the stars of Vaudeville.

For several decades it served as Lee County’s principal seat of entertainment. After the death of Vaudeville, Temple showed its versatility by becoming a touring house for the road shows of the 1930’s (including a bit of burlesque and a visit from the MGM lion), and a movie theater among other things. The Sanford Little Theatre used the Temple for community productions during the 1960’s, but in 1965 Temple Theatre closed its doors for fifteen years.

The rebirth of Temple Theatre began in 1981 when a group of progressive minded citizens approached Mr. Robert Ingram, Jr., the son of the theatre’s original owner, and told him of their vision for the theatre to once again become a jewel for downtown Sanford and Central Carolina. The building was designated a National Historic Site in 1983 and given a grant by the NC Legislature.

Working to receive full funding of the NC Legislature grant, Lee County citizens and businesses matched the grant and also received a generous grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and its doors opened again in 1984. Through the efforts of many, the gutted and vandalized shell of Temple Theatre was refurbished with both the comfort of the theatre patron and performer in mind. Now, over 30 years later, the Temple Theatre is Central Carolina’s Performing Arts Center and provides professional, high-quality productions year-round and a myriad of special events. FAMOUS PEOPLE

• Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States was born 'somewhere' between the NC and SC border in Western, NC. He is known for his strong defense in the rights of the American people

• Charlotte native Charlie Brown is one of twelve people to ever walk on the moon.

• Inventor of coca cola's number one rival, Pepsi, Caleb Bradham was born in Chinquapin, attended UNC, and later went on to mix pepsin and cola and voila, Pepsi-Cola was born.

• Nina Simone is a famous singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist born in Tryon.