Hey, history buffs.
Have you ever looked at a local spot and thought, “this place deserves to be commemorated?” Our city is full of legendary locations – many of which are indicated by historical markers. Historical markers reveal significant places, streets, neighborhoods, buildings, businesses, and cultural events from the past or present. Think: The Hezekiah Alexander House or the Captain Jack statue at the corner of 4th Street and Kings Drive.
But not all significant areas get the attention they deserve. What about Brooks’ Sandwich House in NoDa, Tony’s Ice Cream in Gastonia, or the massive Willow Oak in the Union County town of Marvin that was named a “National Champion” by American Forests.
We want to put these places on the map — literally.
Rules + details
Submit your historic place for a chance to be featured nationwide on our historical marker map. Our favorite submissions will then be featured in our newsletter, where we’ll put it to a vote. Who knows? Maybe it will receive an official historical marker.
Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter. These finalists will then go head-to-head in a vote for our readers’ favorite. The winner will be announced later in December. No promises that it will get an actual historical marker, but it will be one in our hearts.
Want to know more about official historical markers around town? Check out the Historical Marker Database.
The results
The votes are in for the CLTtoday historical markers contest. Check out the finalists below, including the contest winner decided by your votes.
Winner — Alexander Michael’s
With 50% of the votes from our readers, this (now) restaurant that’s been in operation since 1897 is our winner. Alexander Michael’s, now a restaurant and tavern, is historically known as “The Berryhill Store.” It opened in 1897 and lasted for decades, serving as a store and deli in Charlotte’s 4th Ward neighborhood, before being converted to a restaurant in 1983. The site escaped being demolished in the 1970s.
Brooks’ Sandwich House
Taking the second-biggest bite, Brooks’ got ~36% of the votes. This local favorite is a tiny roadside stop with a walk-up window serving burgers, chili, and sandwiches in the heart of NoDa since 1973.
Pro tip: If you plan to visit, they’re cash only.
Dilworth Artisan Station
Rounding out the top three — 14% of you think this 100-year old textile manufacturing site should be memorialized. Nestled in South End, the mill initially produced women’s undergarments before becoming a local artistry hub. During World War II, seamstresses were tasked with sewing parachute canopies for the war effort. The building now serves as a working studio for local creatives.
It doesn’t stop there — we got more submissions than these. Just check out our map of unofficial historical locations — both locally and across the nation.
