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Thomas Spratt & King Haigler on the Trail of History
by Tim Miner on October 22, 2020
#WhereAreWeInCLT? On the section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway across from the Grady Cole Center and the Philip L. Van Every Culinary Arts Building on CPCC’s campus, you’ll find these two bronze figures standing together, looking out into the distance.
The statues sculpted by Charlotte artist Chas Fagan (the sculptor who created the James Jack equestrian statue not much further down the trail) are of Thomas Spratt and King Haigler, the English name for the tribal Catawba chieftain. These two men and their bond were fundamental to the establishment of the Charlotte region in the 1750s. Their friendship paved the way for peace between the settlers and the Catawba Indian Nation in North and South Carolina.
These are just two statues positioned along the greenway as part of the Trail of History, a collection of statues that serves as a museum without walls — highlighting important people and moments in Charlotte’s history. There are eight stops along the Trail today, with statues of Charlotte luminaries Julius Chambers, Romare Bearden, Dr. Annie Alexander and more planned for the future.
BONUS: Once you’ve traveled the Trail of History, we recommend you continue your outdoor time travel excursions by visiting Mecklenburg County’s six operating historic former homesites from the 18th and 19th centuries: Historic Latta Plantation, Historic Rural Hill, Charlotte Museum of History, Historic Rosedale, Hugh Torrance House and Store and President James K. Polk State Historic Site.
