Designed by internationally recognized architect Phil Freelon, the award-winning design of the NC Freedom Park honors the African American experience and struggle for freedom. The park officially opened to the public on August 23, 2023. Celebrate our one year anniversary with a visit this summer!
The five pathways of the park lead to the central element, the Beacon of Freedom. The Beacon is coated with a bright gold finish that glows in the daylight. By night, the Beacon is lit from within as a flame.
The NC Freedom Park site has been in plain sight (so to speak) in the core of our state’s Capital for decades. Yet this horticultural gem has gone virtually unnoticed by most passersby. The park creates paths that facilitate connections between several key destinations in town, including the State Legislature building.
[David Walker was born free in Wilmington, North Carolina. He left the state in 1825 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he was active in the movement to end slavery. He also was an agent for the nation’s first black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal. He is best know for being the author of a fiery book against slavery called, Walker’s Appeal in Four Articles together with a Preamble to the Coloured Citizens of the World.. It was published in 1829 and he died the next year. The quote is taken from that book.]
Situated in the heart of the state capitol, the NC Freedom Park provides a space for reflection on the past, rest and recreation in the present and inspiration for the future. It serves as a tribute to freedom and an expression of the African American experience and the continuing struggle for equity and justice for all.
Located at the corner of Lane and Wilmington Streets in downtown Raleigh, the park is a dynamic interpretation of both the sometimes hidden and fully expressed history and culture of notable African Americans in North Carolina. Like trees, the park extends the contributions of countless individuals to the vital branches of our society.
The NC Freedom Park is powered by individuals who believe in the ideals of freedom and support the Park’s educational and ceremonial offerings through memberships and volunteer opportunities. By becoming a “Friends of the Park” you increase our ability to engage local citizens, including thousands of school children and educators annually.