Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel

The Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel is a ten-story Neoclassical Revival building with brick walls and stone ornaments located on Fayetteville Street. Today it functions as a residential complex with about 140 units providing affordable housing for senior residents in the city center.

The building was constructed in 1923 and quickly became a third house of state government, hosting over 80 percent of North Carolina lawmakers by 1925. It served as an important site for governmental activities and meetings during these formative years.

The Virginia Dare Ballroom was the social hub where people gathered for celebrations and events throughout the decades. Visitors can still sense the elegance of these occasions when walking through the room today.

The building is now a residential complex and not open to the public like a traditional hotel. To appreciate the architecture and exterior details, visitors can walk along Fayetteville Street and admire the facade and stonework from the street.

One particular room in the building was known for receiving regular deliveries during legislative meetings, reflecting the intertwined nature of government business and social life at the hotel. This hidden aspect of daily operations reveals how closely politics and hospitality were connected.