Wildcats and Wolfpacks: a short primer on Raleigh, NC
From political intrique to economic development to basketball to restaurants and museums, Raleigh has a lot to be explored. Peter covers these topics, and more in his video lasting less than 4 minutes. He began Route1Views after visiting the nearby town of Cary in 2018 and began taking pictures, shooting videos and writing songs. Look for the vintage photo at the end of the reel.
Named for an Englishman, Sir Walter Raleigh, who never set foot in North Carolina, the city was carved out of a vacant piece of land in order to provide an inland capitol as the population continued to move West. Despite the ravages of the Civil War and the Great Depression, Raleigh emerged as one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the US following the development of Research Triangle Park.
The focus on NC State and other regional universities has provided the economic engine that continues to drive the Raleigh economy today. It is one of the wealthiest cities in the South, and has been lauded for decades as one of America’s most live-able cities.
Almost equidistant to the northern terminus of Route 1 in Fort Kent, Maine and the southern end of the Route in Key West, Florida, Raleigh is a delightful place to spend a few days getting to know more about the city. This time, Peter got to focus on Basketball for a while, since the first round of the NCAA Men’s tournament was being played at the Lenovo Center. North Carolinians really are some of the most passionate hoops fans ever!
One of the most gratifying things to see was the prevalence of children (not just the grown ones at the Lenovo Center!) in Pullen Park, at the State Fair Grounds, in the museums, touring the Capitol Building, and in the restaurants. People feel safe bringing their kids to the middle of town to experience history and culture first hand.
Peter Evans NC Raleigh Mar 25, 2025 EDU Places to Visit Sports







