Made in Raleigh Quiz

Based on the Cap City’s bustling business scene, it’s clear great minds thrive here. Many local inventions have ventured beyond our state and (literally) connected the globe—and there’s still plenty of inspiration in Raleigh. Here, test your smarts on NC inventors and products. 

1. The NC trio that created the Shibumi Shade—you know, those fluttering blue canopies that dot the coastline come summer—borrowed their brand name from an apartment complex at which Triangle university? 
a.  NC State 
b.  University of North Carolina 
c.  North Carolina Central University
d.  Duke University

2. What’s in a name? Raleigh-born inventor Beulah Louise Henry claimed 49 patents on over 100 inventions, earning her
what nickname? 
a.  Miss Edison
b.  Lady Edison 
c.  Lady Franklin 
d.  Madam Tesla 

3. The Wright Bros. famously flew the first flight in Kitty Hawk. The plane—which then cost $1,000 to make and never flew again—would run how much to build in today’s currency?
a.  ~$1,500 
b.  ~$5,700
c.  ~$10,500
d.  ~$36,000

4. After being told by his doctor that he needed to relieve stress to avoid a breakdown, a 28-year-old executive in Fayetteville invented what now wildly popular game?  
a. Spikeball 
b. Water balloon toss
c. Putt-Putt 
d. Disc golf

5. Buzzy fun fact: Burt Shavitz—aka the “Burt” of the Durham-headquartered natural skincare brand Burt’s Bees—originally worked in Manhattan as a what? 
a. Dermatologist
b. Pharmacist
c. Photojournalist 
d. Race car driver

6. It’s all in the sauce. Raleigh-founded BBQ sauce brand Bone Suckin’ Sauce began when it won the NC Battle of the Sauces in March 1994. How many years in a row was the sauce awarded best in sales records?
a.  3
b.  4
c.  6
d.  12

7. What local craft company garnered the attention of Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and ultimately partnered with the duo, who invested $450K in the company? 
a.  The Woobles 
b.  IpsyDoodles 
c.  Jerry’s Artarama
d.  J. Sanders Studio

8. Sweet relief! What OTC headache reliever was invented by Durham-based pharmacists Germain Bernard and C.T. Council in 1910?
a.  Advil 
b.  Tylenol
c.  Aleve
d.  BC Powder 

9. IBM’s famed engineer George Laurer—who held 25 patents and published 20 technical bulletins in his lifetime—received the Raleigh Inventor of the Year award in 1976 thanks to what invention?
a.  Universal Product Code
b.  Windshield wipers 
c.  Contributions to holography
d.  Loudspeaker system

Answers: 1. B; 2. B; 3. D; 4. C; 5. C; 6. C; 7. A; 8. D; 9. A