Nash Square

Nash Square was a popular cruising spot (a place for gay or bisexual men to meet other men for trysts) in the 20th century prior to and throughout gay liberation.

Several places have been identified as cruising spots in the middle of the 20th century, including certain stretches of Hillsborough, Fayetteville, and W. Hargett Streets. Cruising also took place in public restrooms in the Sir Walter Hotel (400 Fayetteville St.), the Hotel Carolina (demolished), the Museum of Natural History (Annex to 2 W. Edenton St.), North Hills Mall (demolished), Crabtree Valley Mall (altered), and Harrelson Hall (demolished) at North Carolina State University. Nash Square retains the most integrity of all these places and is the most publicly accessible.

Build Date: 1792; Design altered 1913 & 1939-40
LGBTQIA+ Associated: Documented in the 1960s through the 1980s, but likely earlier

Location

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