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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Lexington Barbecue Plaque, Lexington. Photo courtesy of Natasha Smith.

  • Monument Name

    Lexington Barbecue Commemorative Plaque, Lexington

  • Type

    Plaque

  • Subjects

    Industry

    Local History

  • Creator

    Mitch Harb, Unspecified

  • City

    Lexington

  • County

    Davidson

  • Description

    The plaque commemorates the site of the first known business to sell Lexington style barbecue.

    Image: Street view

  • Inscription

    LEXINGTON BARBECUE / COMMEMORATING THE SITE OF THE FIRST KNOWN / BUSINESS SELLING LEXINGTON STYLE BARBECUE / PREPARED UNDER TENTS ON OPEN PITS. / THE CITY OF LEXINGTON HAS BEEN DESIGNATED / BY THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF / REPRESENTATIVES AS THE HICKORY-COOKED / BARBECUE CAPITOL OF PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA. / COMMISSIONED BY / LEXINGTON CITY COUNCIL / MARCH 11, 1985

  • Dedication Date

    March 11, 1985

  • Decade

    1980s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.494780 , -80.152340 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Historic Uptown Lexington, North Carolina. A Heritage Tour," Uptown Lexington, Inc., (accessed December 3, 2013) Link

      "Lexington Barbecue - Lexington, N.C.," North Carolina Historical Markers on Waymarking.com, (accessed December 3, 2013) Link

      The Dispatch (Lexington, NC), October 26, 1985, 3.

      Dough, Wynne. 2006. "Barbecue," NCpedia.org, (accessed December 28, 2013) Link

      Graham, Nicholas. 2010. "Barbecue," NCpedia.org, (accessed December 28, 2013) Link

      History of the Annual Barbecue Festival [Lexington Barbecue Festival], barbecuefestival.com, (accessed December 2, 2020) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Sponsors

    Lexington City Council

  • Subject Notes

    First prepared for the people coming into town for court and for farmers on Saturdays, the Lexington style barbecue has since grown into an industry that the town is widely known for. In the early days of business, the barbecue was prepared on open pits and under tents. The North Carolina House of Representatives later designated Lexington as the Hickory-Cooked Barbecue Capitol of Piedmont North Carolina.

    Barbecue is a regional specialty in North Carolina, with the style of roasting and recipe for sauce varying throughout the state. Since 1983, Lexington has hosted the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival to showcase and serve Lexington-style barbecue.

  • Location

    The plaque is located on the south side of the Lexington’s City Hall building, at the intersection of West Center and North Greensboro Streets.

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