Charlotte's Hidden History

Revealing little-known historical facts about the Queen City

Wikipedia shares the basics: Charlotte gets her name from Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of King George III; and our “hornet’s nest” nickname comes from General Cornwallis during the Revolutionary War—after he was driven out by a swarm of rebellious residents. But dig a little deeper and Charlotte contains a surprising hidden history—found under our feet in places we visit daily, and preserved in the memories of residents.

Read personal stories from longtime Charlotte residents about the desegregation of restaurants, a German POW camp in Myers Park, and more.

Click on the illustrations below to learn about Charlotte's past.