North Carolina: The Tar Heel State

North Carolina: The Tar Heel State — page 1
4 NORTH CAROLINA INTRODUCTION North Carolina is located on the Atlantic coast At just under 600 miles when measured from east to west North Carolina is the longest state east of the Mississippi River Its coastline is dotted with lighthouses particularly along the treacherous Outer Banks Situated on the Outer Banks Cape Hatteras has been the site of many shipwrecks earning it the nickname the Graveyard of the Atlantic One of the original 13 states of the United States North Carolina is rich with history In 1587 it was the birthplace of the first child born of English parents in America In 1775 it became the first colony to authorize a vote for independence from England The state contains many historic sites from the American Revolution 1775 83 and the American Civil War 1861 65 North Carolina is known as the Tar Heel State Historians disagree about the origin of the nickname Some believe that it dates back to colonial days when North Carolina was a leading producer of tar Others trace the name to the American Civil War During one battle as Confederate soldiers from other states retreated North Carolina’s soldiers refused to retreat as if their heels were glued to the ground with tar The beaches along the Outer Banks are dotted with the remains of old shipwrecks some of which date back to the 1500s The Currituck Beach Lighthouse built in 1875 was the last brick lighthouse erected on the Outer Banks The state flag was adopted in 1885 The flag must be displayed at all public buildings state institutions and courthouses The Outer Banks are a chain of sandy islands found along the coast of North Carolina Some of the houses along the Outer Banks have been constructed out of the hulls of old shipwrecks whereas others are decorated with items rescued from sunken ships