Joel Lane was a plantation owner in the late 18th century. It was on his land that the City of Raleigh was built. Raleigh, unlike other cities that grow organically from a small settlement, was designed as the new state capital and completely created on the drawing board. North St., East St., West St. and South St. were the original boundaries. Lane's house is today a museum located at the corner of Hargett and St. Mary.