The Charlotte 500, Lap 76: The Mecklenburg Declaration

Also called, annoyingly, the Meck-Dec, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was, well, declared, in May 1775, in part of what is now eastern Huntersville. There's not much to the site - a sign, lots of trees, and swarms of biting bugs that'll leave you itching for days (a winter visit might be best). The history of the Mecklenburg Declaration is debated. Of course, people from this area will claim it helped spur the country toward the actual Declaration of Independence, but the facts seem to indicate its influence didn't reach very far, either inside or outside North Carolina. Either way, the Mecklenburg Declaration does give you a sense of the excitement of the Spirit of '76, even if it was a year early.