Known as the "City of Oaks" for its stately oak trees, Raleigh is a city of over 470,000, making it the second-largest in North Carolina. Raleigh covers about 146 square miles of land between the hilly Piedmont region and the flat coastal plain.

Raleigh is a vibrant city with plenty to explore. History buffs will love the North Carolina Museum of History, which features over 150,000 artifacts from 600 years of the region's history. The museum showcases items recovered from Blackbeard's ship, Civil War flags, and a lunch counter from a sit-in during the civil rights movement. The museum holds the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which showcases memorabilia from over 300 famous athletes. You also won't want to miss the City of Raleigh Museum, which focuses on local history. It's housed in a building from 1874, retaining much of the original architecture.

The city of Raleigh is also rich in African American heritage. Locals and visitors alike can visit the Leonard Medical School. Founded in 1881, this was the nation's first African American medical school to offer a four-year curriculum. Raleigh is also home to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens, the first public park dedicated to his legacy and the civil rights movement. The garden features a bronze statue of King and a granite water monument honoring local civil rights leaders.

If you enjoy getting outside, Raleigh has several major parks and nature areas. Pullen Park provides over 66 acres for the family to run around in. It features picnic areas, ponds, a carousel, and kiddie boat rentals. Meanwhile, the JC Raulston Arboretum showcases various tree and plant collections, including floral color trails.

The town of Raleigh has a long and storied history. Founded in 1792, Raleigh takes its name from Sir Walter Raleigh. He was the founder of the ill-fated Roanoke colony, famous for its mysterious disappearance in 1790. One of the nation's earliest examples of a planned city, Raleigh became the state capital in 1788, before it incorporated. City planners laid out Raleigh in a grid around the North Carolina State Capitol building.

The 19th century would prove a turbulent time for Raleigh. In 1831, a fire destroyed the North Carolina State House. During the Civil War, North Carolina seceded and joined the Confederacy. After the war, African Americans in rural areas migrated to Raleigh, and the city's economy and diversity grew. Throughout the 20th century, Raleigh's population and economy continued to develop, producing the dynamic city we know today.

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