Chapel Hills Arts, Culture, & History
All phone numbers are Area Code 9l9.
ATTRACTIONS
Ackland Art Museum
The Ackland features a permanent collection of European and American
paintings, sculpture from the Renaissance to the present, Asian art,
North Carolina pottery and folk art, and ancient Greek and Roman
art. Open W-Sat, 10 am - 5 pm and Sun 1-5 pm. South Columbia St,
UNC. 966-5736.
Dean E. Smith Center
The Smith Center is home to the UNC men's basketball games, concerts,
special events and the Carolina Athletic Memorabilia Room, with 3,000
square feet of artifacts, highlight tapes, and other memorabilia from the
University's rich athletic history. Open Mon-Fri, 8 am - 5 pm. Skipper
Bowles Drive, UNC. 962-6000.
The Horace Williams House
The Horace Williams House is a home of historical significance that is also
the headquarters of the Chapel Hill Preservation Society. A cultural center
for the entire community, the house regularly features exhibits, concerts,
lectures, and other events. Open M-F 10 am - 5 pm and Sun 1 - 5 pm.
610 East Rosemary St. 9421-7818.
Morehead Planetarium
The Morehead Planetarium is one of only a few planetariums in the country
with a Zeiss Model VI projector that can show approximately 8,900 stars.
The first planetarium owned by a university, it was once used as a NASA
training center for astronauts. In addition to the 330-seat theatre with a
68-foot dome, there are exhibits, art galleries, rose gardens, a massive
sundial, and a science shop. Shows each evening, matinees on weekends.
Call (919) 549-6863 for a recording of shows. East Franklin St, UNC.
Open daily. 962-1247.
North Carolina Botanical Garden
The North Carolina Botanical Garden is the largest natural botanical garden
in the southeast. Consisting of 600 acres of preserved land, it includes
nature trails, carnivorous plant collections, aquatics, and herb gardens.
Collections of North Carolina and Southeastern plants are arranged by
habitats in simulated natural settings. Grounds open M-F 8 am - 5 pm.
Also open weekends from mid-March through mid-November. Old Mason
Farm Road. 962-0522.
NC Collection Gallery
The North Carolina Collection Gallery includes numerous exhibits, plus entire
historic room settings and recreations of the Sir Walter Raleigh Rooms,
Early Carolina Rooms, the library at Hayes Plantation and the Thomas
Wolfe Room. Unscheduled visitations M-F 9 am - l pm. Scheduled
visitations M-F 1 - 5 pm.Wilson Library, UNC. 962-1172.
Orange County Historical Museum
The Orange County Historical Museum depicts Orange County lifestyles
and history from the time the Indians lived along the nearby Eno River
through 1865 and the Civil War era. A second floor gallery features a
different artist each month. Open Tu-Su 1:30-4:40 pm and one hour
earlier on Wed. 201 North Churton St. 732-2201.
University of North Carolina Historic Sights
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the
nation's first state university. It is the only public university in the
United States to admit (1795) and graduate (1798) students in the 18th
century. Numerous building, events and activities are open to the public.
Visitors interested in the historic campus are encouraged to call the UNC
Visitors' Center at 919-962-1630 for details about historic tours. Special
sights of historic interest are:
Old Well- This well which is the unofficial symbol of the University
was the only source of water
for almost 100 years. The present structure located on Cameron Ave was constructed in 1897.
South Building- The cornerstone for this building was laid in 1798, but the building was not
completed until 1814. James K. Polk lived here from 1814-1818. Located opposite the Old Well.
Old East- The cornerstone for this building , the oldest state university building in the US,
was laid in 1793. East of the Old Well.
David Poplar- This tree which was named for William Richardson Davie, the "father of the
university," is over 200 years old. North of the Old Well.
Playmakers Theater- This Greek-revival temple built in 1851 was designed to be used as a
library and ballroom.