1567 Spanish explorer Juan Pardo builds Fort San Juan.
1587 A group of settlers land on Roanoake island. After three years the settlement disappeared with no trace.
1629 Sir Robert Heath was granted a charter for the territory to the south of Virginia, he calls it Carolina.
1677 John Culpepper led rebellion.
1705 The first permanent city is founded at Bath.
1711 The Tuscarora War occurs.
1712 North Carolina and South Carolina split.
1718 The famous pirate Blackbeard is killed by the Royal Navy.
1729 North Carolina becomes a Royal British Colony.
1780 Patriots defeat royalist in the battle of Moore’s Creek.
1781 American forces are defeated at the battle of Guilford Court House.
1789 North Carolina is the 12th state to ratify the constitution.
1828 Andrew Jackson becomes the 7th president of the United States.
1830 The Cherokee Indians are forced from their lands in what will be known as the "Trail of Tears."
1861 North Carolina secedes from the Union and the Civil War begins.
1868 The state is readmitted to the Union.
1903 The Wright Brothers make the first powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk.
1918 Fort Bragg is established near Fayetteville.
1959 Research Triangle Park is created near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
1989 Hurricane Hugo hits North Carolina doing damage all the way inland to Charlotte.