Often called the City of Oaks, this beautiful location is home to the North Carolina state capital in the Tar Heel state.  On a cloudy day in March, I arrived at the grounds and enjoyed taking pictures without worrying about harsh shadows.  The complex was well-tended and will be blooming in no time!  An array of monuments peppered the area providing visitors plenty to view.

Now serving as a museum, the building has been beautifully staged and preserved as if you had stepped back in time.  Guests collect a pamphlet about the building and are free to walk around to any space that is open for viewing. 

In addition to the two chambers, there was a library and a geologist’s office, with examples on display behind glass for visitors.  Beautiful details were highlighted in every room.

As I found out, Raleigh is also called the “Smithsonian of the South” due to the number of museums visitors can enjoy for free in the area.  In fact, the North Carolina Museums of Natural Sciences and History are across an ally from each other, making it very easy to spend an educational day downtown without having to move your car. 

This was a short trip to see the capital before moving on, but well worth the stop!