Spencer, North Carolina, was named after Samuel Spencer, the first president of the Southern Railway. The railway established mechanical shops in 1896, midway between Atlanta, GA, and Washington, D.C., and developed the town alongside the shops to provide housing for workers. Southern also donated lots for religious institutions and helped establish a YMCA. The community grew rapidly, with 4,000 residents by the 1920s. The former Spencer Shops are now the site of the North Carolina Transportation Museum, and several historic buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is truly everything railroad.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum, formerly the southeast's largest steam locomotive repair facility, has history exhibits, including railroading, aviation, and automotive displays. The Barber Junction Depot serves as the Visitor Center. At the same time, the Bob Julian Roundhouse, the largest remaining roundhouse in North America, houses locomotives, passenger rail cars, and a replica Wright Flyer. The museum provides interactive activities and showcases unique exhibits, such as a 1901 steam-powered car, a 1918 electric car, and a restored Army Hospital Car from WWII and the Korean War.
You can go from the high-powered exhibits of the Transportation Museum to the small ones at The North Carolina Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures. The museum is dedicated to preserving, collecting, and appreciating dolls, toys, and miniatures. Its collection has thousands of items and is recognized as one of the top 35 of North Carolina's Most Unforgettable Museums. It offers hands-on exhibits, play spaces, and creative learning opportunities for children. Rotating exhibits showcase antique to contemporary childhood favorites, such as the largest known Shirley Temple doll, Schoenhut Humpty-Dumpty Circus, and Schoenhut doll collections.
Spend a day outdoors at The Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest, a 42-acre passive park that opened in 2017. The park features two educational pavilions, a small pond with a floating dock, and 2.5 miles of hiking trails. Recently, trails were approved to connect the Spencer/Grants Creek Greenway to N.C. Transportation Museum and on to the Yadkin River and Davidson County's Yadkin River Park.
Learn about the area on foot by taking The Spencer Historic District Walking Tour. The event starts at the town library and features buildings with different architectural styles, reflecting the railroad wealth of the area. This historic district was an example of a railroad town from the latter part of the Gilded Age when the railroad industry was at its peak.
When hunger strikes at the end of the tour, Pinocchio's Italian Restaurant offers an authentic dining experience with a warm and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant features homemade ravioli and gelato and sources ingredients from local farms for their rotating weekly specials. Influenced by the Toscana and Sicilia regions, the dishes are expertly paired with a selection of wines. Pinocchio's offers a unique taste of Italy, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking an original Italian dining experience.
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