NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 906

SENATE BILL 840

 

 

AN ACT TO ADOPT GRANITE AS THE OFFICIAL ROCK FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, the State of North Carolina has been blessed with an abundant source of the noble rock, granite; and

Whereas, the granite quarry located in Mount Airy in Surry County is the largest open face granite quarry in the world measuring a mile long and 1,800 feet in width; and

Whereas, the granite from the Mount Airy quarry is unblemished, gleaming and without interfering seams to mar its splendor; and

Whereas, the high quality of North Carolina granite allows its widespread use as a building material, and for industrial purposes as well as providing super smooth laboratory plates; and

Whereas, North Carolina granite has been used for magnificent government edifices throughout the United States such as the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, the gold depository at Fort Knox, the Arlington Memorial Bridge and numerous courthouses throughout the land; and

Whereas, granite is a symbol of strength and steadfastness, qualities characteristic of North Carolinians; and

Whereas, it is fitting and just that the State of North Carolina recognize the contribution of granite in providing employment to its citizens and enhancing the beauty of its public buildings, and so that this noble rock should not be taken for granted; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 145 is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:

"§ 145-10.  State rock. — Granite is adopted as the official State rock of the State of North Carolina."

Sec. 2.  G.S. 145 is further amended by rewriting the caption of the Chapter to read:

"State Flower, Bird, Tree, Shell, Mammal, Fish, Insect, Stone, Reptile and Rock."

Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 8th day of June, 1979.