The epicenter of the Queen City lies at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. Standing at the four corners of the intersection are four sculptures created by Raymond Kaskey. Each one is a monument to what has made the city what it is. They stand for Future (features a woman hoisting a baby into the air), Transportation (features a very muscular railroad working holding a large hammer), Commerce (features a miner and a banker) and Industry (features a female mill worker, reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter, with a bonnet on her head.)
Charlotte has a lot to be proud of. It’s the largest city in North Carolina and the 18th largest city in the country. It’s also the 2nd largest banking city and home to Wachovia (which is now part of Wells Fargo) and Bank of America, second in size only to New York City.
But you have to be careful taking pictures outside one of these institutions or any other corporate headquarters located along Trade or Tryon. Security guards are everywhere and discourage picture taking, even from public places like sidewalks. Which is sad, because there are so many beautiful buildings with awesome architecture in downtown Charlotte. And it seems more are being added everyday.
Here’s an interesting tidbit, Bank of America actually started out as the Bank of Italy in 1904 in San Francisco, CA.
Even our banks are melting pots.
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