The N.C. Museum of History will highlight the state’s unique, intertwined history of bootleg whisky and stock car racing with a new lobby display featuring the state’s Moonshine and Motorsports Trail. The display, created by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, opens Dec. 7 in the museum lobby.
Distilling grew out of the state’s agriculture history—a rich, complicated distilling history that stretches back centuries. Auto racing in North Carolina has grown from occasional competitions among speed-hungry moonshiners during the 1930s to a multibillion-dollar industry that attracts legions of devoted followers across the world.
The Moonshine and Motorsports Trail was designated in the 2021 state budget and created by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. It was created to instill a sense of pride and ownership and drive economic development, particularly in rural communities, and to be a resource for cultural and tourism institutions across the state.
The initial phase of the trail includes eight locations, including the Museum of History. Additional sites will be added in future phases.
The first eight trail sites are:
- the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Museum in Charlotte
- North Wilkesboro Speedway
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- North Carolina Museum of History
- Stone Mountain State Park
- Occoneechee Speedway
- Rockingham Speedway, and Museum of the Albemarle
Learn more at ncmmtrail.com.
