The Preservation Society's Local Points of Interest

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Local Points of Interest

Chapel Hill's Arts, Culture, & History

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. 919-966-5736.

The Chapel Hill Museum
The Chapel Hill Museum is just up the street from the Horace Williams House on the corner of Boundary and Franklin Streets at the old Public Library. The museum contains numerous local artifacts and is host to many local exhibits. Open Thur-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm, Sunday 1 - 4 pm. 919-967-1400.

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. 919-962-6000.

The Horace Williams House
The Horace Williams House is a home of historical significance that is also the headquarters of the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill. A cultural center for the entire community, the house regularly features exhibits, concerts, lectures, and other events. Open M-F 10 am - 4 pm and Sun 1 - 4 pm. 610 East Rosemary St. 919-942-7818.

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. 919-962-1247.

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. 919-962-0522.

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. 919-962-1172.

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. 919-732-2201.

The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough
Various civic and non-profit organizations have been involved in the preservation of the natural cultural and built environments of Hillsborough and its history, and in the promotion of visitor services to the town.

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 buildings, 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. The following are some of the special sights of historic interest.

	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.

Playmakers Theater - This Greek-revival temple built in 1851 was designed to be used as a library and ballroom. Here the theater is shown in an undated picture and again as it appears today.