The Significance of “The Gate City”
The significance of “The Gate City,” Greensboro, NC’s nickname, as we lovingly call it, goes back to 1890.
Back then, Greensboro became a railroad transportation center and a gateway to the West and the South.
About 60 trains rolled daily in and out of the train station in Greensboro.
In this week’s newsletter, you will learn about the history of our Greensboro Train Station and the “train system.”
Did you know that?
- You can hop on a Carolinian / Piedmont Train at Greensboro Train Station and ride all the way up to The Big Apple, New York’s nickname.
- Or you can catch the Crescent Train, which takes you down south to The Big Easy, New Orleans’s nickname.
- Also, you can travel across or up and down on one of the major highways, such as Interstate 40, Interstate 85, or Interstate 73.
- Or you can fly out from Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) to great connection hubs and many domestic destinations.
Whether you prefer the scenic route or the fast lane, Greensboro, NC, has it all.
The choice is yours.
I don’t know what else could be if all these don’t mean The Gate City.
Monday: Art News Today
The City of Murals
Did you know that you can find splendid murals all over the city in Greensboro, NC?
There are groups of walls that show this great artwork.
Where there are single walls inside a building or outside that need to be “spruced up,” an artist is asked to come and do their magic.
It is fascinating to watch artists work on this wall art. The way a blank wall is approached and the end product is stunning.
One of the “out of the way” places is a group of free-standing murals.
It is a great outside art gallery.
Where have you seen splendid murals in Greensboro, NC?
Tuesday: Foodie News Today
Los Chico’s
Elm Street in Greensboro, NC, is full of small and independent restaurants.
I love to support local independent businesses.
And I give a bonus point if the food tastes authentic to the country from where it is.
Los Chico’s is one of the restaurants that have authentic Mexican food and excellent service.
You can find something for every taste and appetite on their menu.
Why not stop by one day and tell them “Marion” sent you?
And for the ones who don’t speak Spanish, Los Chico’s translates into “The Guys.”
Wednesday: Architectural News Today
James Douglas Galyon Depot
Have you heard people referring to Greensboro, NC, by its nickname, “The Gate City?”
Since the late 1900s, major train tracks, highways, and airlines have come together in Greensboro.
The central train station in Greensboro is called the J. Douglas Galyon Depot and is an intermodal transit facility.
“The Depot” is an Amtrak station and a major hub for local and intercity buses.
It was built in 1927 as a Southern Railway train terminal and was remodeled and reopened in 2005.
After reopening, it was named after James Douglas “Doug” Galyon (1930-2019). He was a civic leader in Greensboro and served most of the time as the board’s chairman of the North Carolina Board of Transportation.
The original train station was built by a New York architectural firm and shows a Beaux-Arts façade with Ionic columns and a three-story arched entry.
Inside, you can find a mural displaying the service area of the Southern Railway system in the 1920s.
See more about the many murals in Greensboro, NC, in the Monday: Art News Today—The City of Murals.
If you haven’t visited yet this architectural gem, what are you waiting for?
You may even want to take a trip.
Thursday: History Facts Today
History of Trains in Greensboro
As we heard so much about the J. Douglas Galyon Depot, also known as the Greensboro Train Station, I wondered about the history of trains in our area.
Southern Railway was the first train company to pass through Greensboro, and its Passenger Depot was built at 400 South Elm Street in 1899.
They built their larger central station in 1927 in Greensboro, NC – the J. Douglas Galyon Depot.
This over 100-year-old building is in the process of being revitalized by the City of Greensboro.
In the 1940’s, more than 40 passenger trains came through the station daily.
Southern Railway and Atlantic & Yadkin Railroad were the 2 train companies traveling through this area.
In 1979, Southern Railway ceased its passenger service and gave full control of its passenger routes to Amtrak.
In 2005, Amtrak reopened the Greensboro Train Station after extensive rehabilitation.
Of the 16 North Carolina stations served by Amtrak, Greensboro was the third busiest in 2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 290 passengers daily.
3 trains are serving Greensboro today:
Would you like to take a ride on one of these trains?
Where would you go?
Friday: Fun Weekend News
Farmers Curb Market
Everyone loves a Farmer’s Market. I know I do! There is nothing better than shopping locally.
Greensboro has multiple Farmers’ Markets and “curb markets” around town.
The Farmers Curb Market at Yanceyville Street has its very own charm.
It was founded by the City of Greensboro in 1874 and is most likely the oldest producer’s market in North Carolina.
It is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates on behalf of the City of Greensboro.
One of their responsibilities to the city is to keep this a “producer-only” market. That means everything you buy here is grown or made by the sellers.
The Farmers Curb Market is open year-round on Saturdays from 7:30 am to 12 pm and seasonally on Wednesdays (usually April to Thanksgiving).
About 250,000 customers visit the market each year.
Monthly themed fundraisers help the market provide vital funds for the operation.
Check it out and watch out for those fun events.
Conclusion of the third week of May 2024
What a fun week we have!
It is all about putting together information on the importance of connection with the world and its people.
This can be via trains, cars, or airplanes and shows how small this world has become.
Greensboro is in the middle of it, and I can call our city Small but Mighty.
If you want to learn more about our great city of Greensboro, NC, subscribe to our newsletter and read the previous ones for more tips and fascinating subjects.
REMEMBER:
Contact me to book our guided walking tours quickly:
Watch for the dates and join me in the most attractive for you.
You can join me on one of my tours, at a restaurant, or outside in the parks.
Drop me a line if you’d like to meet up at marion@travellikealocalwithmarion.com.
Marion
Your Tour Guide with Heart