Downtown in Greensboro in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

North Carolina Railroad

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2010

1. North Carolina Railroad Marker

Inscription. Opened interior of N.C. The ground-breaking took place nearby, July 11, 1851. First president, John Motley Morehead.

Erected 1996 by Division of Archives and History. (Marker Number J-102.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 11, 1881.

Location. 36° 4.076′ N, 79° 47.432′ W. Marker is in Greensboro, North Carolina, in Guilford County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of S Elm Street and Smothers Place, on the left when traveling north on S Elm Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greensboro NC 27401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and specifically in Piedmont Triad.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cigar Industry (a few steps from this marker); Jefferson Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate Cabinet (within shouting distance of this marker); General Nathanael Greene (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Original Methodist Church / Former Methodist Cemetery (about 500 feet away); Lunsford Richardson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Piedmont Railroad (approx. ¼ mile away); Albion Tourgee (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensboro.

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sectionhead>Other markers no longer nearby. Confederate Arms Factory (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Men of Greensboro and Guilford County (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Army of Tennessee (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Biographical Sketch of Calvin Graves (1804-1877). At the ground breaking, the first shovel of dirt was thrown by the Honorable Calvin Graves. (Submitted on August 31, 2010, by Caswell County Historical Association of Yanceyville, North Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. North Carolina Railroad: Calvin Graves of Caswell County, North Carolina
"Breaking Ground for North Carolina Railroad?

A big celebration, with a barbecue, at the ceremony of breaking ground on the North Carolina railroad, took place July 11, 1851. The first shovel of dirt was thrown by Honorable Calvin Graves, of Caswell county, whose vote as speaker of the House of Representatives, gave Greensboro this great railroad. The dirt was taken from the middle of South Elm street, about in front of the present fire depot building. The barbecue was in a pine grove where the depot now stands and embraced all the ground between the railroad

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 31, 2012

2. North Carolina Railroad Marker

tract and Buchanan street. Thousands of people were present.

Source: Greensboro (1808-1904): Facts, Figures, Traditions and Reminiscences, Collated by Jas. W. Albright. Greensboro, North Carolina: Jos. J. Stone & Company, 1904.

Rick Frederick
[email protected]
Archivist and Webmaster
Caswell County Historical Association
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncccha/

— Submitted August 7, 2010, by Caswell County Historical Association of Yanceyville, North Carolina.

Greensboro Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2010

3. Greensboro Marker

Marker on S Elm Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2010

4. Marker on S Elm Street

Marker can be seen on the other side of the North Carolina Railroad tracks.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 31, 2012

5. North Carolina Railroad Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 31, 2012

6. North Carolina Railroad Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,067 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on April 1, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on April 1, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.