CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The City of Charlotte continues to evolve, but as the skyscrapers go up and newcomers move in, one Queen City native is making sure history isn't forgotten, and he's doing it through guided tours on wheels.

What You Need To Know

  •  One Charlotte native is preserving history through guided tours on wheels

  •  The city of Charlotte continues to evolve

  •  History surrounds Charlotte, but you may miss it because of the flashy skyscrapers 

Preserving Charlotte history, one ride at a time, is Tremaine Tyson's specialty.

“So you’ll see these old boulevards and streets, these trees that were planted 100-plus years ago … to give you the canopy you see today," Tyson said.

The Charlotte native used to be a banker. Now, he spends his time behind the wheel of a luxury golf cart. He works for Southern Charm Rides, a unique tour in the city.

“I developed this passion and a hobby for local history," Tyson said.

He's been an activist and historian for over 20 years.

Tyson describes little details of history that you may not notice at first glance as "nuggets," like the statues that are now hidden by overgrown trees or buildings that once stood in place of another.

"Baldwin Avenue was the first paved street in a Black neighborhood," Tyson said.

Charlotte was coined the Queen City in 1768 and rooted in the Old South. "And never would I imagine a light rail, a real train, like the big, big cities [have],” Tyson said of Charlotte. 

Now, it's home to skyscrapers, bankers and a mass transit system. It's often referred to as the New South.

Tyson grew up in one of the oldest surviving African American neighborhoods.

“This is Luther Street, so we’re riding in to my neighborhood — the Cherry Community,” Tyson said.

It was developed by in 1891 by John Myers as a place for African Americans to live comfortably. Today, it's overshadowed by gentrification.

“You’re going to see a mix of homes here in Cherry today... anything from a fixed income [to] someone that’s a multimillionaire. All live side by side," Tyson said.

He and his grandmother still live in one of the original homes of Cherry, with its chipped paint and exposed brick. But that's not the only building he's trying to keep intact. His latest effort is The Morgan School in his neighborhood.

"Over the last two years the community has been fighting to preserve it," Tyson said.

He says the school was designed by Lewis Asbury, one of Charlotte's most noted architects. 

"Each one of the buildings he's designed in both North and South Carolina are all on the national historic register, with the exception of The Morgan School. We're fighting to get that registry," Tyson said.

He and others are aiming to raise a million dollars to make that happen. So, as a new generation flocks to the city, there's a reminder of history all around them.

"People come and say, 'There’s nothing left.' It’s the people. So the history itself is in the people," Tyson said.

If you're interested in learning more about the history and taking a tour, visit southerncharmrides.com.