NC 59 #1 was born in 1932 as mostly new primary routing. It ran from at least US 1/NC 50 (today's Old Wake Forest Rd) and followed Capitol Blvd north out of Raleigh and followed today's US 401 corridor to Louisburg before ending at US 158/NC 48 Warrenton. The 1932 and 1937 Texaco insets of Raleigh does show NC 59 running with US 1/NC 50 down to US 64/NC 90 Edenton St. However, Conoco insets 1934-39 do not show this. North of Louisburg NC 59 followed a few miles of the previously christened NC 501.
Between 1937-44, NC 59 was straightend out to avoid Wake Cross Roads. Up to this point, NC 59 used Mitchell Mill Rd and Louisbury Rd through there.
About 1946, US 1-A was assigned to NC 59 from Wake Forest Rd northeast to the current US 1-401 split. US 1-A was redesignated as mainline US 1 in 1948. However, NC 59 continued to be assigned to Capitol Blvd (called Louisburg Rd then).
Between 1947-49, a bypass was built east of Louisburg. NC 39-59 was placed on it. It appears the Main St route through town has been secondary ever since.

NC 39-59 through Louisburg 1944 Franklin County

NC 39-59 bypasses Louisburg 1949 Franklin County

In 1957, NC 59 was renumbered in its entirety by US 401.

NC 59 #1 (1932-57) 1932 Texaco

US 401 replaces NC 59 1958 Official

NC 59 #2 NC 59 was born in 1958. Initially it ran from US 401 west of Owens around the north side of Fayetteville and ended at US 401 Ramsey St north of Fayetteville. IT appears this was an upgrade to an unnumbered route.
In 1963, NC 59 was extended south through Hope Mills and ended at US 301. This was an upgrade to SRs 1141, 1118, and 1124.
In Nov 1967 (NCDOT), NC 59 north was truncated to US 401 Business. The original NC 59 segment became US 401 Bypass.

NC 59 original routing 1958 Official

NC 59 extended to US 301 1963 Official

NC 59 replaced by US 401 Bypass 1968 Official

In Apr 1981 (NCDOT), when I-95 was opened around Fayetteville, NC 59 was extended to it over SRs 1124 and 2252.
In Nov 2022 (NCDOT), NC 59 was decommissioned as Hope Mills wanted truck traffic moved to NC 162.

NC 59 ending at US 301 1979-80 Official

NC 59 extended to I-95 1982-83 Official

NC 59 removed entirely 2023-24 Official