Discover Kannapolis: History, Art, and Parks

Kannapolis can be explored through a variety of themes: the textile history connected to the city, historic sites, public art, music, and outdoor spaces. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kannapolis, this mix can help you choose the focus of your stay. The destinations below vary depending on whether you’re interested in local history, collections and performances, or time in the park.

Textile History and Historic Sites

At the site of the textile mill from which Kannapolis grew, Cannon Manufacturing began production in 1908. By 1914, the company was considered the world’s largest manufacturer of bed sheets and towels. The start of production and the significance of manufacturing at the time therefore fall in different years, offering a glimpse into the city’s industrial history.

The historic landmarks also offer different perspectives. Kannapolis Cemetery is listed as a historic landmark; one of its oldest headstones dates to 1746. The GI Memorial House is a restored house from 1946 and a rare example of a postwar mill village home. The Gem Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 26, 2019. Together, these places draw attention to an early headstone, a postwar form of housing, and a movie theater’s addition to a historic register.

The stone Ring of Honor 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. Alongside buildings and individual historic markers, this memorial honors people across many generations.

Art, Museums, and Live Performances

Dale Earnhardt Plaza features a nine-foot-tall, 900-pound bronze statue surrounded by paths and gardens. Two other sculptures differ in subject, material, and scale: “The Dancers” depicts two people dancing and stands eight feet tall; the steel “LOVE” sculpture at Kannapolis Train Station measures ten feet. “LOVE” is therefore two feet taller, while the figures define the subject of “The Dancers.”

Music and motorsports offerings have different focuses, too. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame honors notable artists from North Carolina and offers group tours. The Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports displays an extensive collection of music and racing memorabilia. The restored historic Swanee Theatre hosts live music concerts and comedy shows. This lets you distinguish between honoring artists, viewing a collection, and attending a performance, rather than treating all cultural offerings as the same experience.

Trails and Seasonal Outdoor Offerings

The 8th Street Greenway is a ten-foot-wide paved walking path connecting Loop Road with West A Street. Vietnam Veterans Park features a waterfront boardwalk. These descriptions highlight different features: the greenway’s width, surface, and connection are specified, while the park is noted for a single feature, its boardwalk.

Village Park hosts a Summer Concert & Movie Series in Cabarrus County’s largest amphitheater. It also has a carousel, a train, and a splash pad available seasonally. Before your visit, check the current schedule for the concert and movie series, as well as the operating dates for these seasonal offerings, if you’d like to plan around them.

Kannapolis Farmers Market

The Kannapolis Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. from May through September. Check the dates for the current season before visiting. Vendors sell local produce, honey, prepared foods, spices, and crafts; the selection of vendors may change seasonally. The offerings therefore include prepared foods and handmade goods as well as food products. If a market visit is part of your plans, you can combine this seasonal event with the historic, cultural, or park themes of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Concord

For the overview of the wider travel area: Cabarrus.