The Sir Walter Raleigh statue gets dressed up for special occasions, like Canes games. | Photo by RALtoday
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.
DYK? The Andy Griffith Monument in Pullen Park was dedicated by TV Land in 2003.
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.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Happy holidays, Raleigh. This year was my first time sending holiday cards — my dear friend Anna, a talented photographer, took our family photos at Dorothea Dix Park. Of course, we had to snap one with one of Thomas Dambo’s trolls (my husband and I love them so much, it only felt right). If you have folks visiting, finding the family of giant trolls in the park is a fun, free adventure for all ages.
Whatever you have planned this holiday season, I hope you’re able to enjoy this time with your loved ones.
A Dix Park visit isn’t complete without at least one cheesy family photo with Thomas Dambo’s iconic trolls.
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