Kannapolis combines a clearly dated textile history with public art, music venues and seasonal offerings. These themes are easy to distinguish when planning a trip: the historic sites range from the start of textile production to a gravestone from 1746; sculptures, museums and stage programs offer different highlights.
Textile History and Historic Sites
In 1908, Cannon Manufacturing began production at the textile mill site from which Kannapolis grew. Six years later, in 1914, the company was considered the world's largest manufacturer of bed sheets and towels. The two dates mark successive stages in the company's history: the start of production and the later position it achieved in the manufacture of these textiles.
Kannapolis Cemetery also offers a historic landmark: it is considered a historic site, and one of its oldest gravestones dates to 1746. The Gem Theatre adds a later recognition to this history: on August 26, 2019, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The GI Memorial House is another example of the area's industrial history. The restored house dates to 1946 and is considered a rare example of a workers' home in a postwar mill village. Along with Cannon Manufacturing's early dates, it tells of different chapters in local textile history: the production site on the one hand and life in the workers' settlement on the other.
Art, Music and Places of Remembrance
At Dale Earnhardt Plaza stands a nine-foot-tall bronze statue weighing 900 pounds. Paths and gardens surround the statue.
Other sculptures offer a contrast in form. Near the intersection of West Avenue and Laureate Way, “The Dancers” depicts two people dancing; the sculpture is eight feet tall. “LOVE,” a ten-foot-tall steel sculpture, stands at Kannapolis Train Station. Public art in Kannapolis can thus be explored through different subjects, materials and sizes.
Music history and motorsports come together at the Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports, which displays an extensive collection of music and racing memorabilia. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame honors well-known artists from North Carolina and offers group tours. While the Hall of Fame honors artists, the Curb Museum brings music together with motorsports memorabilia.
The Swanee Theatre is a restored historic movie theater that hosts live music concerts and comedy shows. Visitors interested in the connection between history and contemporary culture will find a different focus here than at the museums. Another memorial is the stone Ring of Honor: it displays more than 1,700 names of people from Rowan and Cabarrus Counties who died in service. The names date back to the American Revolutionary War.
Trails, Parks and Seasonal Offerings
The 8th Street Greenway is a ten-foot-wide paved path connecting Loop Road with West A Street. Vietnam Veterans Park has a boardwalk. The greenway is a paved connecting path; the boardwalk at Vietnam Veterans Park is a different type of walkway.
The Summer Concert & Movie Series takes place at Village Park in Cabarrus County's largest amphitheater. The current event calendar can help you plan a visit to this recurring series. The same park also has a seasonal carousel, a train and a splash pad. Since operating hours vary by season, check the dates before your visit.
The Kannapolis Farmers Market is another seasonal option: it takes place on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. between May and September. Vendors sell local produce, honey, prepared foods, spices and crafts; the selection may vary by season. Check the current season's dates before your visit. This gives visitors a choice of historic sites and cultural offerings, as well as seasonal events and a market.
Discover more destinations: Concord.
Return to the broader travel overview: Cabarrus.
