Did you know you can still see pieces of Charlotte's history that are about as old as the United States? As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, here are a few local landmarks and artifacts that date back to the Revolutionary era.

Hezekiah Alexander Rock House

The oldest surviving structure in Mecklenburg County is the Hezekiah Alexander Rock House at the Charlotte Museum of History. Built in 1774, the home belonged to Hezekiah Alexander, who helped draft North Carolina's Bill of Rights and signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Here's what we learned during our tour.

Trade + Tryon

The intersection of Trade and Tryon has been the heart of Charlotte since the city was incorporated as Charlotte Town in 1768. Although no buildings from the Revolutionary era remain above ground, the crossroads served as the center of commerce and was the site of confrontations between colonial patriots and British forces.

Fun fact: The Charlotte Museum of History offers guides that show where the original courthouse and other sites once stood.

A portrait of an older gentleman from the 1700s in a gold frame on display in a museum. — "Portrait of Isaac Gouverneur" was painted by Gilbert Stuart between 1793 and 1795. | Photo via Mint Museum Uptown

"Portrait of Isaac Gouverneur"

Painted around the Revolutionary era, the "Portrait of Isaac Gouverneur" tells the story of a British citizen living in New York who supported American independence. Gouverneur was arrested for treason but later returned to New York as a hero. You can find it on display at the Mint Museum Uptown in the American Galleries on level 4.