NC 56 is an original state highway that traversed from NC 50, in Franklinton, to NC 90, in Nashville. In 1923, it was extended west on new primary routing to Wilton, then northwest to
NC 75, in
Hester. Briefly from 1924 to 1925, NC 56 was truncated north of Castalia, replaced temporarily by NC 58. In 1929, NC 56 was truncated back to US 1/NC 50, in Franklinton; its routing west becoming secondary roads. In 1930, NC 56 was truncated again and its current eastern terminus at NC 58, north of Castalia; its old alignment was replaced again by NC 58 to Nashville. Also same year, NC 56 was extended west to US 15/NC 75, in
Creedmoor. Between 1947 and 1949, NC 56 was rerouted onto new bypass east of downtown Louisburg (today Bickett Boulevard), its old alignment along South Main Street and East Nash Street was downgraded to secondary roads (SR 1229 and SR 1231 respectively). In 1974, NC 56 was extended to its current western terminus in Butner, an upgrade to Butner-Creedmoor Road (SR-1111). In 1975, NC 56 was rerouted back through downtown Louisburg, via South Main Street and East Nash Street; it is unknown when it was reverted onto Bickett Boulevard. ==Major intersections==