x # 1 Old North State Press
Old North State Press modal

A traditional letter pressing shop imbuing exquisite detail onto Carolina paperworks.

Elements of this soundscape include the master printer adjusting his machines, letterpresses, pneumatics, whirring flywheels, and a power attenuator.

x # 2 CAMP North End
CAMP North End modal

The NC bomb factory, a massive 76-acre historic industrial site that produced Model Ts to missiles.

Elements of this soundscape include still open factory floor, industrial fans, creaking pipes, nesting birds, wind in tall grass, dragonflies, and distant urban traffic.

x # 3 Carolina Raptor Center
Carolina Raptor Center modal

Igniting imaginations and inspiring engagement with the natural world through the exploration and rehabilitation of birds of prey.

Elements of this soundscape include a sprawling forest, common tree birds, all manners of insects, the very distant hum of civilization, and wide array of magnificent raptors.

x # 4 Carolina BalloonFest
Carolina BalloonFest modal

Floating delicately in the vast blue, a colorful array of balloons cast playful shadows on festival goers below.

Elements of this soundscape include balloon flight preparation, burners, fans, generators, low-altitude flight, ground crews, patrons, and festival announcers.

x # 5 Apple Picking at Sky Top Orchards
Apple Picking at Sky Top Orchards modal

In the cool mountain air of Autumn, amidst serpentine rows of fruit trees, windy boughs bend and apples fall.

Elements of this soundscape include rustling trees, dropping apples, a light passing storm with wind and rain, a tractor, patrons, and respite under a makeshift orchard shelter.

x # 6 North Carolina State Fair
North Carolina State Fair modal

Truly a sound to behold, the bellowing and breathing of the fair is an interwoven tapestry of NC's sonic identity.

Elements of this soundscape include throngs of fair-goers, the bleeps and bloops of games and stalls, hawkers, rides, agricultural shows, craftwork, and plenty of food being prepared.

x # 7 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden modal

Across the seasons, ever-changing foliage and fauna remind us of the cyclical cadence of life and how though a year passes slowly, the environment revolves in mutual continuity.

Elements of this soundscape include a four-season perspective from inside the garden, with fountains, birds, insects, and light breezes through the plant life.

x # 8 Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival modal

A woodland celebration of show, food, costume, and imagination, with 'Huzzah!'s heard for miles around.

Elements of this soundscape include performers, musicians, shopkeepers, games, a blacksmith, a royal joust, and some very happy patrons.

x # 9 Crowders Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain State Park modal

A steep climb to a soaring vista, stone, tree, squirrel, and hawk all compose a ridgeline chorus that welcomes and invigorates all.

Elements of this soundscape include a mountain-side wind, scattering leaves, rustling branches, distant hikers, distant vehicles, birds, insects, and an airy expanse.

x # 10 Charlotte-Douglas Int'l Airport
Charlotte-Douglas International Airport modal

The straight expanse of field and tarmac is endlessly lapped by the thunderous roar of jet engines as they begin and end their journeys.

Elements of this soundscape include night transitioning into day with a heavy breeze, a wide range of jets departing and arriving, fidgeting on-lookers, stirring grass, and the pulsing hum of distant airport terminals.

x # 11 Town Creek Indian Mound
Town Creek Indian Mound modal

Situated in the serene rural hillsides of NC, a prehistoric archeological site echoes with powerful indigenous cultural roots.

Elements of this soundscape include high wind through an enclave of pines and deciduous, birds, insects, a nearby creek, some interesting frogs and toads, and the whistling of wind through an open thatched roof.

x # 12 Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve modal

Sandy woodland paths wind through towering, slender longleaf pines host a unique mix of forest flora and fauna.

Elements of this soundscape include a gentle bog rivulet, light winds through a forest of tall southern pines, squirrels, birds, tufts of grass, and the distant hum of a nearby active military base.

x # 13 Boone's Cave
Boone's Cave modal

A historic refuge and hideaway naturally rendered from the mossy rock face sitting quietly a river's edge.

Elements of this soundscape include the ambiance from within and emerging out of the cave, dripping water, a rushing river, a very light breeze, some very vocal birds, and the occasional rustling of leaves.

x # 14 Whitewater Falls
Whitewater Falls modal
Near the southwestern boarder of North Carolina is the Toxaway River. Near the end of the Toxaway is the first enormous waterfall in a series of small waterfalls and cascades, Whitewater Falls. By the time the rapids placate and the waters calm, you're in South Carolina. All along the rising ridges of those cascades are flora that are hyper verdant due to the constant mists and trickling streams that float up and pour down the rock faces and trails downstream from Whitewater Falls. The air is filled with just as much moisture and humidity as it is the roar, near and far of the endless, tumultuous rushing water. Here you will find three perspectives on the waterfall: straddling one of the rock-face streams about halfway up the ridge from the main waterfall, down in the middle of the cascades atop a massive midstream boulder, and from a perched lookout directly facing the primary fall, about 200 yards out. Transitioning between all three paints a comprehensive sonic picture of the area and hence the vibrant nature, and meditative roaring white noise that is a quintessential example of water, and power.

Elements of this soundscape include a steady mountain stream up close, standing on an island boulder amidst a roaring river, and a monstrous crashing waterfall, smattered with the occasional bird song and swaying forest foliage.

x # 15 Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls modal

At the end of a trail through a riverside ravine in Pisgah National Forest, is the adventurer's reward in sound, sight, and possibly a quick shower.

Elements of this soundscape include the intense rush and splatter of an enclave waterfall across smooth stone, a river head just beyond the falling water, some light bird songs, and falling forest foliage.

x # 16 Stone Mountain Cicadas
Stone Mountain Cicadas modal

In the rolling northern piedmont, its massive gentle slope stands out against the surrounding green and makes for a unique mountain ambiance ... plus a distant cicada swarm.

Elements of this soundscape include wind rushing through high deciduous foliage, woodpeckers and squirrels chattering in the treetops, the occasional drops and ticks of falling forest fodder, and the swell and fade of the distant brood swarm of hundreds of thousands of cicadas.

x # 17 US National Whitewater Center
US National Whitewater Center modal

Outdoor-enthusiasts abound, a constant jovial and adventurous attitude surges throughout the bike trails, zip lines, climbing walls, and of course, kayaks, rafts, and river bugs ride the roaring rapids.

Elements of this soundscape include churning, tumbling water rapids, plunging climbers into a pool, zip liners, cheers and shouts of patrons, dogs, and the distant hum of the central water generators.

x # 18 Reed Gold Mine
Reed Gold Mine modal

Deep in the Midland woodland along the Little Meadow River, sits a historic forest mine that supplied the area with successive gold discoveries for over 100 years.

Elements of this soundscape include the still air filling the mine, trickling drips of water permeating the rock and support beams, sounds of the forest above echoing lightly through an open shaft, and the water-powered antique mechinations of a barn-sized reconstructed stamping mill.

Reed Gold Mine | Cameron Clark

x # 19 J. Douglas Galyon Depot
J Douglas Galyon Depot modal

Smack dab in the middle of the city of Greensboro sits a historic train station which has been a key stop in the North Carolina transportation circuits for nearly 100 years.

Elements of this soundscape include boomy echoes in the high-domed waiting lobby, light footsteps, activity, and chatter of patrons, cycling generator of the cooling system, the open air on the train platform, and the whistles and locomotion of an approaching and arriving train.

x # 20 Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie National Forest modal

In the south central piedmont sits one of the 4 massive national forests of the state, one which is overflowing with endless hiking paths to allow anyone and everyone to get comfortably lost in the wilds.

Elements of this soundscape include distant passerines and raptors throughout the forest, high breezes blowing through the treetops, the sparse buzz and tick of insects, the occasional falling of acorns, leaves, or twigs onto the forest floor, and the steady resonance of a stream flowing underbridge.

x # 21 Black & White Coffee Roasters
Black & White Coffee Roasters modal

Great coffee is the product of masterful farmers and dedicated roasters, but incredible coffee is a made by relationships, exceptional focus, and creativity.

Elements of this soundscape include the churning and whirring of roasters, sorters, and vacuum air systems, the dumping and gathering of buckets of beans, the filling and sealing of coffee pouches, and the energetic chatter and banter of the B&W Coffee Team.

x # 22 Old Mill of Guilford
Old Mill of Guilford modal

Nestled just outside of Greensboro is one of the most storied and preserved structures in the state, and it continues to grind grains, each and every day, in a legacy of endlessly provisioning the community.

Elements of this soundscape include a grinder in the attic, granules channeling down a grain chute, a vigorous oscillating sifter, a powerful but slowly turning stone grinding wheel, and an enormous ever-creaky waterwheel powered by the slow rush of a piped water trough.

x # 23 Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Sylvan Heights Bird Park modal

In the North-central-eastern region of the state the stands a monolith in the avian sanctuary arena, perched in the calm countryside where over 2000 birds thrive in a glorious and cacophonous symphony of songs and brilliant feathers.

Elements of this soundscape include the squawks, caws, chirps, croaks, trills, hoots, cries, and tweets of birds from all of the planet, flaps and swooshes of dynamic wings, and the rise and fall of communal calling that ripples through the park.

x # 24 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show
Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show modal

In the misty altitudes of Blowing Rock a community gathers to celebrate the equestrian arts, friendly competition, and the legacy of a NC tradition.

Elements of this soundscape include horse and rider pass-bys, horse snorts and nickers, jumps, fence knocks, a fall, announcers, signaling tones, spots of ground transportation, light crowd applause and banter, and a steady breeze with occasional rain.

x # 25 NC Granite Quarry
NC Granite Quarry modal

Roaring and smashing, churning and grinding, digging and hauling, the powerhouse that is granite retrieval creates a deep reverberant swell of industrial perfection.

Elements of this soundscape include large scale rock crushers, drills, chisels, saws, bulldozers, cranes, and grinding apparatus, all woven along paths and byways nestled throughout a deep granite cistern.

x # 26 Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain modal

Along the curve of the pinnacle mountain trail, hawks circle, cicadas fade in and out, and the quiet mountain air hangs just above the sweeping forests and hillsides below.

Elements of this soundscape include insect chirring, occasional cicadas, a light breeze, and moments of bird twitters and squawks against a backdrop of distant humans mulling about in the valley below.

x # 27 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show
MCAS Cherry Point Air Show modal

Searing through the blue skies, the raw, unfiltered power of a fleet of jets, helicopters, prop planes, and even a rocket-powered fire engine will quite literally shake you to your core.

Elements of this soundscape include high-powered jet turbines, propeller-driven engines, infantry and attack helicopters, speedy mini jets, and full impact simulated attack bombings.

x # 28 Pottery Studio (From the Ground Up)
Pottery Studio modal

Situated around the renowned Seagrove potters territory, Michael Mahan masterfully manipulates mounds of clay into delightfully functional works of unique kiln-fired art.

Elements of this soundscape include manual kick and motor-driven potter's wheels, clay mixing and shaping, wetting and forming the clay, the adding and removal of drying shelves, and a wood-fired kiln.

x # 29 Emerald Village
Emerald Village modal

A deep complex of 12 individual mines in the Eastern peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, the open Bon Ami Mine guides a waterfall driven stream straight into a cavernous subterranean grotto.

Elements of this soundscape include the constant splatter of a cavernous waterfall, scree, creaks, and groans within the mine opening, and the large resonance of the heavy stone and acoustic space.

x # 30 Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell modal

The highest peak East of the Mason-Dixon, this balsam-blanketed monolith is invigorating to inhale, spectacular to behold, and within its windy, moss-covered forests, deeply centering to harken.

Elements of this soundscape include tall, dry balsams clattering in high winds, sparse calls and chatterings of mountain birds, and a calm, thin, and broad atmosphere of a high-altitude forest.

x # 31 Historic Occaneechi Speedway Trail
Historic Occaneechi Speedway Trail modal

Tucked away in a neighborhood forest of Hillsborough, is a historic dirt track used for independent stock car races going all the way back to the beginning of NASCAR.

Elements of this soundscape include blustery winds in a forest biome, a large central open space, a highly reflective concrete grandstand, various birds, guests with children walking the loop, and evocative distance traffic.

x # 32 Rockingham Dragway
Rockingham Dragway modal

Take away the large crowds, announcers, and music and you get the focused, rich, and lively ambiance of terribly powerful cars screaming down a historic arrow-straight 1/4 mile run.

Elements of this soundscape include monstrously powerful street drag vehicles on a wide open 1/4 mile strip, empty but highly reverberant aluminum and concrete grandstands, track preparation vehicles (tractor rotator) and operations, team crews and support staff cheers, and a solitary sounding flagpole.

x # 33 Carbonton Dam
Carbonton Dam modal

Abandoned long ago for its original purpose, this visual monolith on the Deep River has taken on an incredible new life as a crossroads of living history and living art.

Elements of this soundscape include the spraying and tagging of a graffiti artist, a large brick and cement room tone, a rushing river below, and occasional nearby traffic.

x # 34 Cannon Ballers Baseball Game
Cannon Ballers baseball game modal

Within the minor league circuit, players and fans alike converge in a celebration of baseball, playful ballpark antics, and an emblematic soundscape of summertime.

Elements of this soundscape include and energetic announcer, digital organist, ball players, hits, catches, players warming up, and quite lively and dynamic fanfare.

x # 35 Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial modal

A monument that has stood on a hilltop, gazing over a wide corridor of sandy plains for nearly 100 years, the granite perch gives the eyes and ears a tremendous perspective over the encircling Outer Banks.

Elements of this soundscape include whipping wind gusts, the starting, take-off, and flight of a biplane, light distant insect chirring, and the clicks and clatter of guests' footsteps on pristine granite.

x # 36 Jockey Ridge State Park
Jockey Ridge State Park modal

In a vast sandy expanse between the ocean and sound, the surrounding world quietens amongst the largest sand dunes of the Eastern seaboard.

Elements of this soundscape include sand skittering across the dunes, coastal insects and birds, distant kite fliers and visitors, and an approaching storm.

x # 37 Albemarle Sound Wildlife
Albemarle Sound Wildlife modal

A unique topographical entity, these coastal forests boast an array of special flora and fauna in a teeming landscape between sea and sound.

Elements of this soundscape include coastal birds, water and forest insect chirring, amphibious chirps and croaks, distant traffic off the sound, and even a passing snake.

x # 38 Killer Bees Honey
Killer Bees Honey modal

Tucked away high up in the Western Appalachians, this rarefied mountain apiary cultivates some of the most incredible honey in the country.

Elements of this soundscape include the glorious droning hum of a honey bee swarm, solo bee fly-bys, cricket springing past, mountain bird calls, and light wind and leaf rustle from the surrounding forest.

x # 39 Grandfather Mountain Mile High Bridge
Grandfather Mountain Mile High Bridge modal

High atop a crested expanse of stone and forest is a historic crossing that creaks and groans in spectacular fashion.

Elements of this soundscape include the flux of 10s of thousands of pieces of weathered metal, the stir of the alpine forest below it, and the laughter and occasional shriek of visiting patrons.

x # 40 Overmountain Shelter
Overmountain Shelter modal

At the state's edge sits a secluded and decrepit and beloved Appalachian Trail shelter that sports the calm of the forest behind it, and the vista of the valley to its fore.

Elements of this soundscape include the sporadic gusts of wind blown surging through the old timbers, insects and birds abound, passing hikers, and a woodland critter or two.

x # 41 Wilson Creek Wilderness
Wilson Creek Wilderness modal

Twenty-five miles from anything there are flowing and sprawling wilds, inviting and enticing as you enter, bringing you to center as you arrive.

Elements of this soundscape include the circular subdued roar of a creek/river confluence, the interwoven chirr of nearby cicadas, calls of twilight passerines, and the sumptuous exhale of deep nature.

x # 42 Oak Island Pier
Oak Island Pier modal

Drawing visitors up to nearly 30 feet above the water and 880 feet out into the ocean, the wind and waves conjure a rarely enjoyed serene abode.

Elements of this soundscape include gusty coastal wind, flapping ropes and covers, water splashing against the pier base, distant waves crashing on the shoreline, those same waves upclose from underneath the pier, and the occassional call of the local petrels.

x # 43 Hurricane Ian (Coastal Storm)
Hurrican Ian/Storm modal

The chaos of Mother Nature is on full display as her commonlly melodic song transforms into a bellowing howl accompanied by a calescent cry.

Elements of this soundscape include powerful and relentless wind, a constant barrage of waves from an ocean on the approach, sheets of rain, dripping run-off from roofs and decks, and the sporadic flexing and groaning of nearby beach homes.

x # 44 RR Haynes Memorial Clock Tower
RR Haynes Memorial Clock Tower modal

Perched upon the crest of its renovated home on the edge of the historic town of Cliffside, a brilliant structure of time continues to move history forward.

Elements of this soundscape include the consistent click and ping of the wishbone pallet on the escape wheel, the releaes of the main spring and wheel, the ringing of the bells, and the occassional call of birds reverberating through the stone and timber belltower.

x # 45 Road to Nowhere
Road to Nowhere modal

Seemingly pulled from the pages of a mythical fable is a deep, dark underpass in the forest that humbles the senses and floods the mind with curiousity.

Elements of this soundscape include howling and droning wind through the tunnel, hikers and trekkers passing through, the drip of water, the rustle of grit and leaves, and the chirp of a few resident birds.

x # 46 Lake Norman State Park
Lake Norman State Park modal

On one of the largest man-made lakes in the state, the wildlife, waters, shorelines, boaters, and visiting patrons all converge in this serene yet quite active park.

Elements of this soundscape include lapping lakeshores, pattering rain fall, near and distant boaters, lake wildlife including blue herons, fishing-folk, and surrounding neighborhood ongoings.

x # 47 Bamboo Groves
Bamboo Groves

As a rising crop and industry across the state, these groves create a unique minicosm of agricultural performance and environmental excellence'.

Elements of this soundscape include the wind whirling through 20+ ft tall bamboo canes, the scurry and calls of wildlife, the clatter, crack, and crash of canes being felled, and the use of cutting tools, trucks, and other distant harvesting equipment.

Bamboo Groves | Everest Holmes

x # 48 Bat Cave Preserve
Bat Cave Preserve

Private and secluded, hidden amongst the mountain ridgelines is a geoplogical feature that exists nowhere else in North America, and possibly even the entire planet.

Elements of this soundscape include the quiet hollow cathedral, flowing reverberant traces of the mountain wildlife outside the cave, and the tranquil drip and splat of draining rivulets from the mountain floor above.

Bat Cave Preserve | Brian Parr

x # 49 Haw River State Park
Haw River State Park modal

Awash with the faunal and floral sounds of both water and land, this wetland park is immersed in the continuous hum of wildlife and is traversable by both path and boardwalk.

Elements of this soundscape include riverside waterflow, the zipping of damsel and dragonflies, chirring marsh insects, a light breeze toying with the wetland foliage, and faint rain clearing to distant rumbles of a passing storm.

x # 50 Emerald Hollow Mine
Emerald Hollow Mine modal

Be it digging, creeking, or sluicing, the sounds of moving and sifting through the earth are curious, rich, and truly grounding.

Elements of this soundscape include diggin' for stone in forest embankments, creekin' with trowels and screens in Wallace Creek, and sluicin' through a bucket of dirt and gems under some very necessary cooling fans.

x # 51 Raven Rock State Park
Raven Rock State Park modal

A cascading rock face, resonant and towering, playfully echoes the sounds of the Cape Fear River.

Elements of this soundscape include three changing perspectives full of deep forest chirring, birds and raptors, a lapping and running river waterway, and a highly reflective crystalline wall of rock that transports sound magically along the hiking paths.

x # 52 Wilber's Barbecue
Wilber's Barbecue modal

From where, oh where can such flavor and richness emerge? Why, from the mastercraft of melding discerned meats, regional wood, fire, embers, spices ... and time.

Elements of this soundscape include the making of embers, the prepping of the pit, the chopping of expertly barbecued pork, and a roadside ambiance that sharpens the entire scene to perfection.

x # 53 UNCC International Festival
UNCC International Festival modal

All around the world in a single afternoon? Not only is it possible, but one can make the journey with maximum wonder and discovery, and zero jet lag.

Elements of this soundscape include musical performances, tents, booths, and stalls of food and activities from over 35 nations, and a bustling sea of curious and convivial patrons.

x # 54 Corn Fields
Corn Fields modal

A staple the world over, with varietals that dazzle the eyes and tastebuds alike, this ancient crop is embedded in the state's land and history before a 'state' was even something to be conceived.

Elements of this soundscape include wind delicately tracing its way through towering corn stalks, the soft clatter of chunky foliage, grasshoppers and crickets chirring away, and the munch crunch of a tractor set to bring it all down for the season.

x # 55 The Green Race
The Green Race modal

Wild doesn't even come close to articulating the spectacle that is this event. Stay sharp, keep an open mind, and lookout for those boofs.

Elements of this soundscape include daredevil-level kayakers taking on a highly technical class 5 run of rapids, the undeniably powerful roar of The Narrows, and an equally undeniable crowd that earned the privilege to attend.

x # 56 The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway modal

469 miles of paved roadway boasting an astonishing 272 overlooks supplies visitors with spectacular sights and sounds of the Carolina highlands throughout the four seasons.

Elements of this soundscape include a melangé of passing vehicles crusing the parkway amidst a backdrop of multi-seasonal mountain wildlife, trickling water, birds, breezes, bikers, visitors, and vivacity.

x # 57 COCOCO Furniture Workshop
COCOCO modal

A staple industry for as far back as any can remember, a day spent with one of the new guard of furniture makers paints a sonic picture of design and craftsmanship.

Elements of this soundscape include a wonderfully percussive warehouse tone, carpenters building and modifying frames, upholsterers forming and working fill materials, and tailors marking, cutting, and sewing fabrics.

x # 58 Christmas Town USA
Christmas Town USA modal

Awash with endless lights, cheerful festivities, and a powerful holiday spirit, December in McAdenville truly defies all expectations of even the coziest of Christmas communities.

Elements of this soundscape include celebrations and walla of the town lighting ceremony, a parade, musical performances, countdowns, crowd cheers, and the mulling about of festive patrons.

x # 59 Lumber River State Park
Lumber River State Park modal

Though fairly remote and teeming with wildlife, the human / nature interactions in this precious state park are prime examples of our impact on natural soundscapes.

Elements of this soundscape include the convolutions of a steady river bend, a breeze through bare trees, raptors, squirrels, distant fishing boats and hunting dogs, and a few jumping fish.

x # 60 Lake Waccamaw
Lake Waccamaw modal

As dusk proceeds and the dark of night rises under a nearly new moon along the water's edge, aquatic and land dwellers alike talk, play, and commune with their after-dark friends around the state's largest freshwater lake.

Elements of this soundscape includes summer cicadas in a pine fern glade, bay forest creatures chatting about, a wash of noctural fauna, richly chirring insects, energetic amphibians, and light lapping of water on the lakeshore.

x # 61 NC Pickle Festival
NC Pickle Festival modal

Brined in joy, flavored with celebration, and infused of both history and novel innovation, the great pickle gala of NC is a trip for all of the senses unlike any other.

Elements of this soundscape include pickle patrons and vendors enjoying the festivities, folks posing at the pickle wall, a pickle eating contest, a pickle costume contest, helicopter rides, performers, and lively pickle walla.

Julie Beck | NC Pickle Festival

x # 62 South Mountains State Park
South Mountains State Park modal

Tucked away near the edge of the State Park and Game Lands is a bevy of serence trails and waterways that encircle one of the most distinctive tiered waterfalls in the region.

Elements of this soundscape include a quiet, deep, and breezy forest, flying and chirring insects, birds, and the unique combination of a tiered waterfall, drop pools, and a turbulent stream.

x # 63 Southern Grace Distilleries
Southern Grace Distilleries modal

Where there once was sorrow, now there is joy. Planted in the historic remnants of a 1920s prison campus, one of the most heartful distilleries in the state springs forth.

Elements of this soundscape include the roiling and rocking of thumpers, the bubble and rattle of the boiler, the filling and chilling of a worm can condenser, the drip and patter of a catch cistern, and the deeply resonant ambience of this concrete and iron bastille.

x # 64 Black River Cypress Groves
Black River Cypress Groves modal

On a river of juxtapositions, flanked by properly wild wilderness, a day on the water is unavoidably grounding, enveloping you in a lesson you may not have known you needed.

Elements of this soundscape include the gentle flow and tumult of a winding river, a distributed flight of dragonflies, jumping fish, curious turkeys, and both the late evening and early morning on the river's edge.

Jamey Ewing & Zachary Osborne | Black River Cypress Groves

An extra special thanks to Mr. Ewing and Mr. Osborne for their efforts as master wilderness guides (in and out of the river), resilient problem-solvers, and just all-around excellent human beings.
x # 65 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games modal

A festival's festival. A celebration's celebration. Joyful, encouraging, raucous in all the best ways, and blissfully melodic in sound, sight, smell, and spirit.

Elements of this soundscape include a host of main field Scottish athletics, traditional dancing, a huge drum and pipe band, bagpiping competitors, and wonderful Gaelic singers of the Mod.

x # 66 Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge modal

A pocket haven of abundant and thriving life mixed between the wetland and the forest, whether by foot or by wheel, it is a gem for the naturalist at heart.

Elements of this soundscape include moving from the forest backwaters > forest/wetland edge > middle of wetland, waterfowl and herons, raptors and passerines, chirring crickets and coursing dragonflies, animal play at the water's edge, and the psithurism of the forest.

x # 67 Raleigh Drum Circle
Raleigh Drum Circle modal

Building a community around rhythm and joy, this ever-growing gathering of dedicated drummists demonstrates the power of letting the collective find their beat together.

Elements of this soundscape include a vibrant and jovial drumming family playing together, a large variety of percussive instruments, the ambience of a community park, and a woven collage of rhythm and timbre.

Tony & Melissa Griffin | Raleigh Drum Circle

x # 68 Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing modal

Automotive preeminence, constant discovery and innovation, mental and physical precision, and a love for all things fast produce the magic that drives a winning NASCAR team.

Elements of this soundscape include the an active race garage, a plethora of tools, the walla of technicians and mechanics, trial runs at multiple pit practices, and the purr and hum of engine testing.

Carl Schweppe | Joe Gibbs Racing

x # 69 Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park modal

Unlike anything else in the state (and perhaps the world), the 'gigs' are a feast for the eyes, candy for the ears, and endless sustenance for the imagination.

Elements of this soundscape include the mechanical conversations of towering whirligigs, the rise and fall as they randomly activate, the bustle of a downtown park, and the musings of delighted patrons.

x # 70 Cotton Man Farms
Cotton Man Farms modal

A staple of North Carolina agriculture, the growing, gathering, packing, and processing of this wonder plant creates a sound field blending the delicately organic with the powerfully mechanical.

Elements of this soundscape include cotton picker passbys, a fleet-footed loader, a massive module builder, wind, birds, and crickets rushing through the dry unharvested plants, and a roaring multi-story gin.

Butch Byrum III | Cotton Man Farms

x # 71 Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme modal

A college tradition spanning over two decades and a nearly century-old culinary icon of North Carolina that evolved into a global sweet snack maven combine forces to support valiant work in a jovial test of fortitude.

Elements of this soundscape include the hype and energy of racers counting down and surging through the starting line, racers slamming down doughnuts at the half-way marker (and a few coming back up), a snapshot of the finish line, and the gentle ambience of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.

x # 72 Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster modal

The first alpine coaster in the state, this new addition to North Carolina's robust mountain outdoor recreation scene is a wild rush through a forested open-air slope of our beloved Appalacians.

Elements of this soundscape include the passing of sleds on their climb up the coaster, the rattle, race, and shouts of riders flying down it, the slow turn and pull of the chain lift, and a magically windless lift-to-shed POV ride from the seat of the sled.

Brittany McCormick | Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster

x # 73 Bentonville Reenactment
Bentonville Reenactment modal

A historical revelry, homage, and study like no other in the state, this pivitol Civil War reenactment is exhaustive in its precision, expansive in its presentation, and exhilarating in its participation.

Elements of this soundscape include the an esteemed historian narrator, an engaged crowd of 10000, passionate fanfare, and all the fixin's of the theatre of war, including gunshots, cannon fire, belted combat commands, galloping horses, the sounding of bugles, and a formal regimented march from the field of battle.

Terra Schramm | Bentonville Reenactment

x # 74 Outback Motorsports Complex
Outback MSC modal

Silken paths and robust mounds of fine kaolinite red clay weave and rise through the underbrush of longleaf pine forests as riders on any manner of all-terrain vehicles rev, roar, and race through the wilds.

Elements of this soundscape include the quiet hum of eastern woodlands, the distant racing of riders, the prep and tune-ups of vehicles, and a plethora of different dual-sport bikes making jumps, circuits, turns, and passbys.

Rick Kitynsky | Outback MSC

x # 75 Kudzu Liana Tangle
Kudzu Liana Tangle modal

Invasive. Medicinal. A scourge. A utility crop. The eater of the South. Notorious and infamous, summer time scenes in North Carolina would be historically incomplete without this turbulant vine. But that may soon change.

Elements of this soundscape include the surge and sway of psithurism through heavy kudzu sprawl, the calls of both birds and bats, the chirr and hum of nocturnal insects, and the day and night ambience of being nestled down in the 'zu.

x # 76 The Frying Pan Tower
The Frying Pan Tower modal

Few sound scenes are as primal and meaningful to humans as those produced by the sea. The ones manifested at this incredible and unique location are the cleanest of any in the state, and perhaps far beyond.

Elements of this soundscape include open sea wind, waves against the Tower piles, royal terns and other sea birds cawing and calling, resonant tower tones, underwater hydrophonics, a helicopter, and spots of construction, fabrication, and maritime maintenance.

x # 77 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 78 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 79 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 80 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 81 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 82 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 83 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 84 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 85 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 86 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 87 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 88 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 89 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

x # 90 Location Name
Location Name modal

[Intro]

[Description]

Elements of this soundscape include [elements].

[Location Contact] | Location Name

100 North Carolina Soundscapes logo

A compendium of ambisonic recordings from across the state


Every location on our planet has a unique sonic signature. The portion of Earth that makes up North Carolina, USA is no different, with a diverse and varied landscape of geographic and biological features, cultural identity, industrial heritage, and social engagement.

A state-wide project that aims to capture, design, and present these rich elements of the North Carolina aural environment, The 100 Soundscapes of North Carolina is a collaborative effort between Eiravaein Works and individuals, small businesses, government departments, and cultural groups working together to create immersive listening experiences of one hundred of NC's most iconic soundscapes. From fields to factories, festivals to fauna, or fanfare to the serene natural locales, we're building a comprehensive audio image of the Old North State, nestled boldly in the central Eastern coast of the United States.

Each of the 100 soundscape recordings will be an immersive 5-15 minute loopable ambisonic (3D) and optional stereo (2D) audio file. They are presented here as a binaural recording (stereo), allowing you to listen to them through headphones and feel enveloped in a designed ambient cloud of sound. This is an ongoing list of the project's recordings while it is still under production. Once completed, the entire final recordings of all 100 soundscapes will be released in a comprehensive collective format in tandem with public listening events across the state.

Read the project's Creative Brief.

Check back often for updates and stay tuned!


  Select a soundscape  
(headphones suggested)


#1

Old North
State Press


Letterpress Shop
Waxhaw

#2

CAMP
North End


Historic Factory
Charlotte

#3

Carolina
Raptor Center


Bird Conservatory
Huntersville

#4

Carolina
BalloonFest


Hot Air Balloons
Statesville

#5

Sky Top
Orchards


Apple Picking
Flat Rock

#7

Daniel Stowe
Botanical Garden


Public Garden
Belmont

#8

Carolina
Renaissance Festival


Festival
Huntersville

#9

Crowders Mountain
State Park


Mountain
Kings Mountain

#11

Town Creek
Indian Mound


Pre-historic Site
Mount Gilead

#12

Weymouth Woods
Sandhills N.P.


Nature Preserve
Southern Pines

#13

Boone's
Cave


Cave
Lexington

#14

Whitewater
Falls


Waterfalls
Cashiers

#15

Moore Cove
Falls


Waterfalls
Brevard

#16

Stone Mountain
Cicadas


Mountain
Cherry Lane

#17

US National
Whitewater
Center


Recreation
Catawba River

#18

Reed
Gold Mine


Mine
Midland

#19

J Douglas
Galyon Depot


Train Station
Greensboro

#21

Black & White
Coffee Roasters


Coffee Production
Rolesville

#22

Old Mill
of Guilford


Grist Mill
Oak Ridge

#23

Sylvan Heights
Bird Park


Bird Sanctuary
Scotland Neck

#24

Blowing Rock
Charity Horse Show


Equestrian Event
Blowing Rock

#25

NC Granite
Quarry


Rock Quarry
Mt. Airy

#26

Pilot
Mountain


Mountain
Pinnacle

#27

MCAS
Cherry Point
Air Show


Air Show
Havelock

#28

From the
Ground Up
(Potter)


Pottery Studio
Robbins

#29

Emerald
Village


Mine
Little Switzerland

#30

Mount
Mitchell


Mountain
Burnsville

#31

Historic
Occaneechi
Speedway Trail


Walking Trail
Hillsborough

#32

Rockingham
Dragway


Auto Track
Rockingham

#33

Carbonton
Dam


Abandoned Dam
Sanford

#34

Cannon Ballers
Baseball Game


Sporting Event
Kannapolis

#35

Wright Brothers
National Memorial


Monument
Kill Devil Hills

#36

Jockey Ridge
State Park


Sand Dunes
Nags Head

#37

Albemarle Sound
Wildlife


Coastal Forest
Kitty Hawk

#38

Killer Bees
Honey


Apiary
Lake Toxaway

#40

Overmountain
Shelter


Hiking Trail
Newland

#41

Wilson Creek
Wilderness


Waterway
Wilson Creek

#42

Oak Island
Pier


Pier
Oak Island

#43

Hurricane
Ian


Storm
Southern OBX

#44

RR Haynes
Memorial
Clock Tower


Clock tower
Cliffside

#45

Road to
Nowhere


Forest Tunnel
Bryson City

#46

Lake Norman
State Park


Wildlife Park
Troutman

#47

Bamboo
Groves


Agricultural
Swannoa

#48

Bat Cave
Preserve


Granite Fissure
Chimney Rock

#49

Haw River
State Park


Marshland Park
Summit

#50

Emerald
Hollow
Mine


Prospecting Mine
Hiddenite

#51

Raven Rock
State Park


Rock Formation
Lillington

#52

Wilber's
Barbecue


BBQ Restaurant
Goldsboro

#53

UNCC
International
Festival


Festival
Charlotte

#54

Corn
Fields


Agriculture
Rural Hill

#55

The Green
Race


Competition
Saluda

#56

The Blueridge
Parkway


Scenic Road
Boone to Canton

#57

COCOCO
Furniture
Workshop


Furniture Maker
Claremont

#58

Christmas
Town
USA


Festival
McAdenville

#59

Lumber River
State Park


River Park
Orrum

#60

Lake
Waccamaw


Crater Lake
Lake Waccamaw

#61

NC Pickle
Festival


Festival
Mt Olive

#63

Southern Grace
Distilleries


Distillery
Mt. Pleasant

#64

Black River
Cypress Groves


Ancient River
Black River

#67

Raleigh
Drum Circle


Community Drumming
Raleigh

#68

Joe Gibbs
Racing


NASCAR Team
Huntersville

#69

Vollis Simpson
Whirligig Park


Sculpture Park
Wilson

#70

Cotton Man
Farms


Cotton Fields
Edenton

#72

Wilderness Run
Alpine Coaster


Adventure
Banner Elk

#73

Battle of
Bentonville
Reenactment


Reenactment
Bentonville

#74

Outback
Motorsports
Complex


Motorsports
Laurinburg

#75

Kudzu Liana
Tangle


Wildlife
Davidson

#76

The
Frying Pan
Tower


Maritime
Ocean

#77


Type
Location

#78


Type
Location

#79


Type
Location

#80


Type
Location

#81


Type
Location

#82


Type
Location

#83


Type
Location

#84


Type
Location

#85


Type
Location

#86


Type
Location

#87


Type
Location

#88


Type
Location

#89


Type
Location

#90


Type
Location

#91


Type
Location

#92


Type
Location

#93


Type
Location

#94


Type
Location

#95


Type
Location

#96


Type
Location

#97


Type
Location

#98


Type
Location

#99


Type
Location

#100


Type
Location