In a city brimming with history – and equally famous for paving over it – the Charlotte Trail of History and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation teamed up to help make the past part of a modern and approachable conversation.
The first-ever Trail of History Festival featured music and art demonstrations, talks by local historians and museum interpreters, and tours of the statues along the adjacent Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Organizers dubbed it a fitting nod to Mecklenburg County’s history and a celebration of its culture and growth.
“History really does deserve its day,” said Kendall Kendrick, Executive Director, Charlotte Trail of History. “We have a wide variety of organizations here to help tell those stories.”
Partners for Parks was one of the organizations that helped found the Trail of History to energize the metropolitan section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway”, said Al Brown, Partners for Parks Board Treasurer and Trail of History Board member. “These beautiful bronze statues help tell the story of our history and recognize some of those who have made Charlotte/Mecklenburg a great place to live. What a wonderful gift to our Community.”
Board President Beth Poovey said it’s a natural fit to be part of an event like this.“It’s really important for Partners for Parks to engage in programming like this,” added Poovey.“Bringing people together in outdoor public spaces in new and different ways is how we can all come together and help build community.”
The Festival encouraged visitors to learn a little more about local history through family-friendly activities, presenters, and musicians. The event centerpiece, if you will, is the mile and a half Trail of History itself; which features a dozen bronze statues of local history-makers.
“Knowing what has happened in the past helps make us what we are,” added Kendrick. “I hope they learn something, that they would say, ‘wow, I didn’t know that, or I didn’t know that we had such a diverse history, and so many different people who played a role in the story of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Adreonna Bennett is the Community Engagement Archivist with the J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte, which preserves local government documents, records, and oral histories. She said the library wants to bring its collections out to the public, and talk to people about how they can preserve their own records as well.
“It’s important to be out here to share the history of Charlotte,” she added, “and I hope they can learn information they can share with other people.”
Theresa Tracy happened upon the event walking along the Greenway with her kids. They all learned a little something during the unexpected stop.
“We learned about the printing press, how they made books long ago,” she said. “My kids love going and seeing different historical sites, so this is right up our alley!”
Kendrick hopes the Festival becomes an annual event. But the learning doesn’t have to wait until next year. The Charlotte Trail of History is open 24 hours a day along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Plan your visit, download a map, and discover more at charlottetrailofhistory.org.
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