Monument Coverage

'Gone forever:' Highway project could destroy Civil War battleground in NC

A proposed bypass of US Highway 70 would take up 55 acres of land, including the land of the Wyse Fork Battleground. Supporters of the bypass say it would ease traffic in and around Kinston, but historians fear the bypass would destroy the site of one of the last major battles of the Civil War.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

'A beacon of hope': NC Freedom Park opens Wednesday in honor of African Americans' struggle for freedom

The North Carolina Freedom Park opened Wednesday in downtown Raleigh.

Eric Miller, WRAL reporter and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporter

Biden Creates Two National Monuments in the Southwest

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Tuesday designated two new national monuments in the Southwest, insulating from development a half million acres in Nevada that are revered by Native Americans and 6,600 acres in Texas that were once admired by writer Jack Kerouac.

Coral Davenport, New York Times

Inside look at North Carolina Freedom Park ahead of opening this summer

The North Carolina Freedom Park is set to open in the summer of 2023 on the corner of North Wilmington Street and East Lane Street in Raleigh.

Tours of Washington Monument shut down ahead of Biden inauguration

The National Park Service said it will also be implementing temporary closures at the National Mall and other monuments.

REGINALD HILDEBRAND: N.C. Freedom Park will 'let it shine'

Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 -- When they come to Freedom Park they will learn that the people who tend to express the value of freedom most powerfully and convincingly -- and with the greatest moral authority -- are the people who were denied it most completely. The people who were slaves and their descendants. Their words and their witness will serve as reminders for anyone who may take freedom for granted or who may falter or become discouraged in its pursuit. They remind us that the flame of freedom that lit the soul of every slave still burns in all of us. They remind us, that the battle for freedom begins every morning.

Washington Monument welcomes back visitors on Thursday

The Washington Monument welcomed visitors back on Thursday. It closed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

New park to honor NC African Americans

Next week, crews will break ground on the first North Carolina state monument to honor African-Americans.

'First park to recognize the African American experience in our state:' NC breaks ground on Freedom Park

Tucked away in downtown Raleigh, at the intersection of Lane and Wilmington streets near the Executive Mansion, lies an acre of land that will be the site of North Carolina Freedom Park. Next week, crews will break ground on the first North Carolina state monument to honor African-Americans.

Aaron Thomas and Bryan Mims, WRAL reporters

Women's rights monument unveiled in Central Park

Officials in New York unveil monument to pioneers of women's rights.

The NC woman who refused to go to the back of the bus: Monument in Roanoke Rapids honors civil rights activist

A 1946 Supreme Court ruling mandated passenger segregation was illegal, but when the bus stopped in Roanoke Rapids, Sarah Keys received an unpleasant welcome to the South.

Richard Adkins, WRAL photojournalist

New monument honors man who invented air conditioning

At a time when people are tearing down monuments, people in Harnett County are putting one up. Scott Mason has the story of a monument honoring a man whose invention helped change the world.

Trump uses Mount Rushmore address to rail against removal of monuments

President Donald Trump on Friday made an impassioned appeal to his base while in the shadow of Mount Rushmore instead of striking a unifying tone, railing against what he called a "merciless campaign" by his political foes to erase history by removing monuments some say are symbols of racial oppression.

By Betsy Klein, CNN

Senate moves to fund long-discussed African-American monuments in downtown Raleigh

Funding for the monument, left in question after last year's budget veto, was reintroduced and may pass soon.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter