For us? You shouldn’t have. We think living in the City of Oaks is the greatest gift of all, but our city has actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From land for amusement parks to grand statues, check out these three unique gifts given to Raleigh.
North Carolina Museum of Art | In 1947, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $1 million to purchase 158 paintings, two sculptures, and 25 decorative arts pieces, kick-starting the NCMA’s collection. Fun fact: The museum opened in 1956, and was the first US museum funded by a state legislature.
Previous RAL City Editor Cat here. Two of my favorite pieces on display are “Tar Baby vs. St. Sebastian” by Michael Richards (on loan from the artist’s estate) and Claude Monet’s “The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset,” purchased with state funds.
Farmland for Pullen Park | The farmland that became one of the oldest amusement parks in the US — that’s right, Pullen Park — was donated by Richard Stanhope Pullen to the City of Raleigh to be used exactly as it is today. Founded in 1887, Raleighites can still enjoy amusements like the Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel — listed in the National Register of Historic Places — take a ride on the train, pedal around on the lake, and much more. Sounds like a pretty great gift to us.
Sir Walter Raleigh Statue | This 11-foot statue of Raleigh’s namesake stands proudly in front of the Raleigh Convention Center. On permanent loan from the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, it was created by sculptor Bruno Lucchesi in the 1970s. The statue was originally intended to be dedicated by 1918, but the project was delayed due to the Great Depression.
Today, the bronze statue is occasionally dressed up for special events, like Carolina Hurricanes playoff games — I’m sure he would have been a Canes fan — and is still a prominent Raleigh landmark.
These extraordinary gifts not only add character and value to our city but also show how generosity can have a lasting impact.
