Charlotte's early strong ties with England broke on May 31, 1775, when the Mecklenburg Resolves, a set of resolutions completely invalidating the authority of the king and parliament, were signed. British General Lord Cornwallis called Charlotte a "hornet's nest of rebellion" because of Patriot activity during his occupation of the city. Visitors can see a monument to the signers of the Mecklenburg Resolves at the County Courthouse, on 600 E. Trade St.
Modern Charlotte, "The City of Trees," exhibits the same independent spirit the pioneer settlers did. What most cities call downtown is "uptown" in this city. The largest metropolitan area in the Carolinas, with close to two million residents, Charlotte is a booming financial services center as well as a major service and distribution area for the Southeast. Much of the city's prosperity is due to the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, a large transportation hub that opened Charlotte to the world.
Spirit Square Arts Center, 110 E. 7th St., stages concerts and other performing arts programs and sponsors art exhibits throughout the year. The Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Opera Association and Charlotte Repertory Theatre all perform regularly at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
The Charlotte Coliseum, just off the Billy Graham Parkway, is home to the National Basketball Association's Hornets. The Carolina Panthers Stadium, 800 S. Mint St., will be home to the National Football League's Carolina Panthers beginning the 1996-97 season. More than 100 parks provide a variety of recreational opportunities. Water sports enthusiasts find nearby Lake Wylie and Lake Norman ideal for swimming, sailing and water skiing.
NASCAR races take place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, 12 miles north on US 29. The season begins in May with The Winston Select and continues with Goody's Pole Night, Red Dog 300 and the Coca-Cola 600. In October the Winston Pole Night, All Pro Bumper to Bumper and the United Auto Workers General Motors 500 are featured. Other events include national and regional competition and testing, research and development.
Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, 248 Ridgewood Ave., consists of 3 acres of formal gardens and wooded areas offering a respite from the busy city. In late February the Southern Spring Show offers the first glimpse of spring with gardens and indoor and outdoor floral displays. In late April the SpringFest draws hordes of revelers uptown for 3 days of activities welcoming the warm weather.
Fall and winter have their share of festivities too, including a Thanksgiving Day parade; Kids Day, held the first Saturday in December, culminating in a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony; and the Uptown New Year's Eve Street Celebration.
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