The State capitol of North Carolina was built around the years 1792 and 1796 as a small two story brick house and on Union Square. Later, in early 1820's the capitol was enlarged to have a third story and a west and east wing. In the year 1831 the capitol was burned because of careless workers which had the initial intention to make the roof fire proof. Only a few furnishings were saved. The exterior walls of the current State Capitol are gneiss (metamorphosed granite) stones weighing as much as ten tons each. The stone came from a quarry a little more than one mile southeast of Union Square. It was brought by the Experimental Railroad, a wooden cart drawn by horses, mules, and oxen on a railroad track. The stones were piled by only human and animal strength. The capitol was built to to be a formal meeting place for the leaders of North Carolina. It shows how architecture was like back in the 1840's.
Today the capitol serves as a museum and as the office of our governor.