Serving as the seat of Wayne County, Goldsboro is a vibrant North Carolina city in the Coastal Plain region. It was originally established as Waynesborough in 1787 and was later referred to as “Goldsborough’s Junction” after the assistant chief engineer of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. Goldsboro played an important role in the Civil War as a station for Confederate troops.
Things to do in Goldsboro
Nine historic buildings from across the county can be found at Old Waynesborough Park, which is located where the original seat of Wayne County stood until 1848. Wander between the Quaker meeting house, the lawyer’s office and the school to see buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The site forms part of the North Carolina Birding Trail and walking trails wind through the surrounding forest and cypress swamp.
Goldsboro is home to one of the first Jewish house of worship to be constructed in North Carolina, Oheb Sholom, which was founded in 1883. Admire its red-brick Romanesque Revival-style architecture designed by Milton Harding while learning about its importance to Jewish heritage in the United States.
A short drive south-east of Goldsboro is Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, which encompasses 300 hectares on the banks of the Neuse River. Begin your visit at the park museum to learn about the natural history of the area, as well as the Tuscarora and Saponi people who once inhabited it. In addition to hiking trails along its soaring cliffs, the park includes fishing and swimming sites.
Getting around Goldsboro
Goldsboro is around one hour's drive from Raleigh and just over an hour from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which has flights to destinations across North America. Regular buses connect to Goldsboro and travel throughout the city, connecting most of its attractions.