The Confederate Monument on the Raleigh State Capital Grounds

Raleigh Recreation: Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

Try a walking tour of the Downtown Raleigh Historical District!

Raleigh, NC offers a lot more than a great career environment, culture, parks, and recreation.

There's also a lot of history here - and the Downtown Raleigh Walking Tour is a good way to get a view of some of that history.

The Confederate Monument on the Raleigh State Capital grounds is just one more site to see when touring downtown Raleigh.

The three bronze statues on the Confederate Monument represent the three branches of the Confederate forces - the Infantry, Calvary, and Artillery.

There are two 32 pound cannons mounted on either side of the monument.

The Confederate Monument was created to honor North Carolinians who served in the Civil War.

A Tar Heel soldier, Henry Wyatt, was the first Civil War soldier to die in battle for the South-at Bethel Church in Virginia.

The inscription reads "First at Bethel, Last at Appomattox", representing the fact that both the first and last soldiers to die in the Civil War were from North Carolina.

More than 125,000 North Carolinians fought in the Civil War, out of a total population of about 1 million.

More than 20,000 were killed, and another 20,000 died from disease, which means that North Carolina lost more soldiers than any other Confederate state.

In contrast, about 10,000 North Carolinians have died in every conflict since.

The Confederate Monument was unveiled on May 20, 1895 with many distinguished guests present, including Captain Samuel Ashe, Governor Elias Carr, and Julia Jackson Christian, the granddaughter of Stonewall Jackson.

During construction of the Confederate Monument, a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone.

This 1894 capsule includes things like Confederate currency, maps, legislative bills, newspapers, copies of journals, flags, a Confederate song book, and personal items belonging to General Robert E. Lee.

The Confederate Monument is located on the west side of the North Carolina Capitol grounds at the end of Hillsborough Street.

Today there is a backdrop of loft skyscrapers, and walking just a short block further will bring visitors to the revitalized Hillsborough Street, with shops, restaraunts, and nightlife.

Be sure to check out the Raleigh State Capital Tour and the rest of the grounds of the capital during your visit!

There are 13 other monuments on the grounds of the capital.

Some other great stops on the Downtown Raleigh Walking Tour are:

North Carolina Veteran's Monument - Honoring WWI, WWII and Korean War Veterans in Downtown Raleigh

A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans - Special Exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History in Downtown Raleigh

Raleigh History Museum - Great FREE Exhibits in Downtown Raleigh!

Raleigh Historical Buildings - State Bank of North Carolina (Built in 1813)

NC Museum of Natural Science - Free Activities for Kids in Raleigh

Raleigh and the Triangle Area

Whether you're looking at relocating to Raleigh to start your career, to find a friendly place to raise a family, or retiring in a terrific climate, Raleigh and the Research Park Triangle has something to offer you. Great schools, Forbes rated #1 in 2007 for Businesses and Careers, lots of lakes and golf courses, top-rated cultural centers, universities, and hospitals - and all only two hours to the ocean and three hours to the mountains - it's no wonder that Raleigh is a "Best Place to Live"!

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