Abstract:
The great flood following Hurricane Floyd in 1999 devastated portions of Rocky Mount. A number of attractions, including the visual arts center and the children's museum, were destroyed. Wright discusses how civic leaders responded by spending $50 million from the public sector to enhance the city's quality of life and public facilities. For example, using the abandoned Imperial tobacco factory, Rocky Mount replaced the lost cultural attractions. In the downtown area, the city is in the midst of a revival, with a refurbished 1903 train station and renovations of historic properties.