A Walking Tour of High Point, North Carolina

By Doug Gelbert

There is no better way to see America than on foot. And there is no better way to appreciate what you are looking at than with a walking tour. Whether you are preparing for a road trip or just out to look at your own town in a new way, a downloadable walking tour is ready to explore when you are.

Each walking tour describes historical and architectural landmarks and provides pictures to help out when those pesky street addresses are missing. Every tour also includes a quick primer on identifying architectural styles seen on American streets.

This area was settled by Pennsylvania Quakers as early as 1750 but there was nothing that looked like a town here until 100 years later when the North Carolina & Midland Railroad came through. The town was located at the highest point on the line between Greensboro and Charlotte and became High Point. In 1854 a 130-mile plank road following an old Indian trail and pioneer wagon road was finished between Salem and Fayetteville and crossed here, insuring High Point would develop as a trading center.

High Point was incorporated in 1859. There was early industry in tobacco but neighboring North Carolina towns were more aggressive in its promotion and the importance of High Point's two tobacco factories faded away. By 1889 word had spread among woodworkers of the abundant hardwoods available nearby and the town's first furniture factories opened. High Point was on its way to becoming the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World."

Today the region is home to more than 125 furniture manufacturers, including 15 of the nation's largest. More than 60% of all the furniture crafted in America comes from within 200 miles of High Point. Twice a year furniture designers, buyers and sellers from more than 100 countries around the world descend on the city for the International Home Furnishings Market, the largest event of its kind on the planet.

there won't be many steps on our walking tour when High Point's furniture heritage is not on display but first we will begin by the railroad where the town earned its name...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Doug Gelbert
• Release date: Jun 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458071279

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A Walking Tour of High Point, North Carolina

a walking tour in the Look Up, America series from walkthetown.com

by Doug Gelbert

published by Cruden Bay Books at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 by Cruden Bay Books

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher.

This area was settled by Pennsylvania Quakers as early as 1750 but there was nothing that looked like a town here until 100 years later when the North Carolina & Midland Railroad came through. The town was located at the highest point on the line between Greensboro and Charlotte and became High Point. In 1854 a 130-mile plank road following an old Indian trail