{"id":140,"featured":1,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:31:12","latitude":35.79393475056446760618200642056763172149658203125,"longitude":-78.710351378420682522119022905826568603515625,"title":"J.S. Dorton Arena","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/da622d6dba7cc282bd7002607235c425.jpg","address":"1025 Blue Ridge Road, North Carolina State Fairgrounds","all_locations":[],"zoom":16,"creator":["RHDC"],"description":"The J. S. Dorton Arena features parabolic design that boldly combined architecture and engineering, earning the building its reputation as an exceptionally significant design. Polish architect Matthew Nowicki, who conceived the structural idea for the building, died in a plane crash before construction finished. Raleigh architect William Henley Deitrick oversaw the completion of the paraboleum and made minor changes to the fenestration. The building provides a concert hall and exhibition space for the state fair.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nDate:  1952","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://cityofraleigh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/COR10/JSDortonArena_LandmarkOrdinanceAndReport.pdf\">J.S. Dorton Arena Landmark Designation Ordinance and Report</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/da622d6dba7cc282bd7002607235c425.jpg":{"id":284,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 2010","description":"Image courtesy of D. Strevel, Capital City Camera Club.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/da622d6dba7cc282bd7002607235c425.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/0d7d822c1a9114a0b73ad88f42f6926d.jpg":{"id":246,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1980s","description":"Image by Michael Zirkle Photography, copyright Raleigh Historic Development Commission.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/0d7d822c1a9114a0b73ad88f42f6926d.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/cd0f13cb66ac4b082368145b5a6c578c.jpg":{"id":735,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1950","description":"Roof Plan.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nImage courtesy of Guy E. Crampton and William Henley Deitrick Papers and Drawings. Roof Plan. Guy E. Crampton and William Henley Deitrick Papers and Drawings, 1928-1977 (MC00227). Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries. July 30, 2014. http://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/mc00227-003-ff0065-000-001_0004. NCSU Libraries’ Digital Collections: Rare and Unique Materials.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/cd0f13cb66ac4b082368145b5a6c578c.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/6937496e710526860782e60b1067040a.jpg":{"id":736,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1950","description":"Roof Details.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nImage courtesy of Guy E. Crampton and William Henley Deitrick Papers and Drawings. Roof Details. Guy E. Crampton and William Henley Deitrick Papers and Drawings, 1928-1977 (MC00227). Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries. July 30, 2014. http://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/mc00227-003-ff0065-000-001_0002. NCSU Libraries’ Digital Collections: Rare and Unique Materials.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/6937496e710526860782e60b1067040a.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/198e16212d0bcdf422ae64d15b58ca1e.jpg":{"id":773,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, date unknown","description":"Image courtesy of Design Library Image Collection, North Carolina State University, Libraries, Design Library. ","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/198e16212d0bcdf422ae64d15b58ca1e.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/f9609839413663811b5b0fc410535b6b.jpg":{"id":873,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1962 NC State Fair","description":"Image courtesy of NC Museum of History.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/f9609839413663811b5b0fc410535b6b.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/13b8880d3f098785344dfe29160aea51.jpg":{"id":891,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1952","description":"Image courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/13b8880d3f098785344dfe29160aea51.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/eb3298d9c2ea2f04418ef0d2d57b3162.jpg":{"id":942,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena","description":"Image courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/eb3298d9c2ea2f04418ef0d2d57b3162.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/c6c6af2ee1ab5777b25eac674062a0a5.jpg":{"id":943,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena","description":"Image courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/c6c6af2ee1ab5777b25eac674062a0a5.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/af5698c111feae31faff9274b1e7e5b6.jpg":{"id":944,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena, 1975","description":"Image courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/af5698c111feae31faff9274b1e7e5b6.jpg"},"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/fullsize/20982a3d089a16fe4a3eacd91288cedd.jpg":{"id":945,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"J.S. Dorton Arena","description":"Image courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.","thumbnail":"https://mail.raleighhistoric.org/files/square_thumbnails/20982a3d089a16fe4a3eacd91288cedd.jpg"}}}