NC Sports - Babe Ruth
You've probably heard of Babe Ruth, the great baseball player. But did you know that Babe Ruth hit his first home run in North Carolina or that he may have gotten his nickname here? | Full Story

State Nickname: The Tar Heel State
Think the Tar Heels are just a college basketball team from North Carolina? Think again. The term Tar Heel goes a long way back in history. But who came up with it? Several possible origins of the expression have appeared over the years. | Full Story

The Tarheel State - State Flag
No matter where they fly, flags symbolize the pride of a people. Flags the world over command respect and inspire loyalty. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the American flag has become a more familiar sight around our nation. It has helped citizens find strength and comfort during a difficult time. Another emblem of patriotism is our state flag. | Full Story

The State Boat
Early North Carolina coastal communities relied heavily on boats for transportation. Residents used oxen and horses to get around, but more often they went about their daily lives—visiting friends and conducting business—via the water. During the colonial period, most boats used in North Carolina came from other places. In the mid-1860s, local boat builders began producing different types of workboats. Tar Heel craftsmen built more than 1,000 sloops, sharpies, and schooners between 1865 and 1930. | Full Story

N C Aviators: Tiny Broadwick
Georgia Ann Broadwick was a daredevil who became an aviation pioneer. She was nicknamed Tiny because she weighed only eighty-five pounds and stood just over four feet tall. | Full Story

The State Flower: The Dogwood
It may seem odd, but our state flower is also a tree. The dogwood has been North Carolina’s favorite flower for more than sixty years. Here are a few interesting facts about the flower that is a tree—or vice versa. | Full Story

NC's Flying Parson: Belvin Maynard
After World War I, many high-ranking officials thought that future military power would belong to the country that could fight from the air. To prove this point, the Army Air Corps (precursor to the United States Air Force) sponsored the Double Transcontinental Aerial Derby. This race required planes to take off from New York or San Francisco and crisscross the country. The first pilot to complete the round-trip flight would win the derby. | Full Story

NC Fruit & Vegetable
You’ve probably heard your mom or dad say, "An apple a day helps keep the doctor away." It’s true that apples are nutritious, but they’re not the only food that will help you stay healthy. Scuppernong grapes and sweet potatoes are also nourishing, and each holds a special title in North Carolina. | Full Story

William Lee: Father of the Airborne
Some North Carolina aviation pioneers made history without ever flying an airplane. Pioneer Tiny Broadwick didn’t fly planes—she jumped from them! In fact, she was the first woman to parachute from an aircraft. Pioneer William C. Lee didn’t just jump from planes, he recruited other men to jump, too. Lee helped establish the first paratrooper division in the United States military. | Full Story

Mary Nicholson: Pioneering Aviator
Flying was a dangerous activity in the early days of aviation. Improvements in aircraft performance were made after World War I, but the safety devices and precautions we take for granted today were unknown before World War II. Many skilled pilots died in crashes, cutting short promising careers. One of those pilots was Mary Nicholson. | Full Story

Helping the Wright Brothers
Have you ever wondered why the Wright brothers chose North Carolina as the site of their first flight? Wilbur and Orville Wright had not traveled outside the Midwest. Yet in 1900 they packed their gear and headed 750 miles to Kitty Hawk to begin their glider experiments. The reason why is simple: they were invited. | Full Story

Kiffin Rockwell, Fearless Pilot of World War I
Many North Carolinians served as aviators during the First World War. Tar Heel pilot Robert Opie Lindsay of Rockingham County earned the title ace by downing six enemy planes in combat. But the most famous North Carolina aviator during the war was Kiffin Rockwell. | Full Story

Tom Davis: Entrepreneur of the Air
In May 1927 Charles Lindbergh flew the airplane Spirit of St. Louis from New York to France. It was the first time anyone had flown solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh’s historic flight showed the world that aviation was the way of the future. In the 1910s and 1920s, visionary businessmen had formed aviation companies that transported goods and offered charter flights. Lindbergh’s achievement convinced the public that planes were a reliable means of travel for everyone. As a result, commercial airline service took off! | Full Story

Sequoyah: Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet
Sequoyah was born around 1770 in Taskigi in western North Carolina (today this area is part of Tennessee). His mother was Indian and his father was white. He was raised in the tribal ways of the Cherokee and learned to hunt and trap animals. When he grew up, he worked as a hunter and fur trader. He also became a skilled silver craftsman. | Full Story

Dolley Madison: NC's Legendary First Lady
Dolley Madison was the wife of James Madison, fourth president of the United States. She is also the only first lady born in North Carolina. She gained fame for her bravery and style and also for shaping the role of first lady. But how much of what people know about Dolley Madison is fact, and how much is fiction? | Full Story