Statehood The 12th state Nov. 21, 1789 Captial Raleigh State Motto To be rather than to seem Origin of State Name The state was named in honor of King Charles I and King Charles II of England; the Latin word Carolinus, means "of Charles." State Nickname The Tar Heel State A commonly accepted origin is a slight against the state's Civil War soldiers, who could not hold a position in battle because they had forgotten to "tar their heels." Interesting Facts The state's best-known scenic attraction is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located astride the North Carolina-Tennessee border. The North Carolina Museum of Art, in Raleigh, is the nation's only art museum whose collection was founded with state funds. The Wright Brothers made the first successful airplane flight in 1903 in Kitty Hawk.