Celebrating Two Years of Inspiring Work

North Carolina Freedom Park celebrated its Grand Opening on August 23, 2023.

In our two years of operation and in partnership with The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission we have welcomed over ten thousand children to The Park for guided tours, and thousands of adults on self-guided tours. We have celebrated the importance of and the struggle for freedom in poetry and in song, with storytelling and with activities for the whole family. We hope that you will return again and again to be inspired, uplifted and nourished by the words of those who believed that freedom and equality are a universal aspiration.

Photo by Keith Isaacs

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The Friends of North Carolina Freedom Park Board

We are The Friends of North Carolina Freedom Park Board, a new board that has taken up the next task of fostering and protecting the culture and continued relevance of The Park. As an independently funded organization our mission is to keep The Park vital and visible in the Raleigh community as well as statewide for years to come. We are also proud to be a part of the Mellon Foundations’s Monuments Project. We believe this space can generate creativity, good will and connection for all.

Photo by Keith Isaacs

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Plan Your Visit to North Carolina Freedom Park

Experience This New Addition to Downtown Raleigh

The North Carolina Freedom Park site has been in plain sight in the core of our state’s Capital for decades. Yet this newly opened Architectural and historical gem can feel like a surprise discovery for many passersby. The Park creates paths that facilitate connections between several key destinations in town, including the State Legislature building. Wander through on your coffee break or on your morning walk. Discover an uplifting quote or steal a personal moment of reflection. There is always something new to receive.

Photo by Keith Isaacs

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Featured Voice of Freedom of the Month

David Walker in black and white, honored by the NC Freedom Park

“Now, Americans! I ask you candidly, was your suffering under Great Britain, one hundreth part as cruel and tyrannical as you have rendered ours under you?”

David Walker (1796-1830), author, abolitionist

David Walker, one of North Carolina Freedom Park’s Voices of Freedom, 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.

About the NC Freedom Park

A monument to freedom in the words of North Carolinians

Situated in the heart of the state capitol, the North Carolina 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.

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Experience North Carolina Freedom Park

Located at the corner of Lane and Wilmington Streets in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina Freedom Park is an architectural celebration of the underrepresented history of notable African Americans in North Carolina. The Park is a monument to the words and stories of those whose unsung contributions have shaped the living branches of our society.

Photo by Keith Isaacs

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Local kids tour the park and experience the Voices of Freedom etched in the walls.

Become a Friend of The North Carolina Freedom Park

The North Carolina Freedom Park is powered by individuals who believe in the ideals of freedom and support for all people. The Park’s educational and ceremonial offerings are made possible through memberships and volunteer participation. By becoming a Friend of the Park you increase our ability to engage local citizens as well as visitors from all over the state, including thousands of school children and educators annually. We would love to welcome you to our growing community.

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