May 10, 1949: Morehead Planetarium opens

Posted May 10, 2021
The opening of Morehead Planetarium on May 10, 1949 was a big event. Frank Porter Graham, who was at this point a U.S. Senator, gave the main address, expressing his belief that the Planetarium would “become a part of a great intellectual and spiritual center whose influence will reach across all the states through all the generations to come.” (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

Tar Heel football players get passports for Ireland
Tar Heel football players took advantage of a campus program to acquire passports ahead of the team’s season-opening game in Dublin, Ireland. Carolina’s Phillips Passport...
Sun Aug 2, 2026

Andy Griffith’s daughter reflects on her father’s legacy, North Carolina roots
For generations of tv viewers, Andy Griffith was Sheriff Andy Taylor, who was the wise and kindhearted lawman of the fictional town of Mayberry. To...
Sat Aug 1, 2026

Best-selling novelist, UNC alum Sarah Dessen reflects on her ‘Change of Plans’
At UNC, Sarah Dessen initially chose psychology as her major. But after she took a creative writing class with the late Doris Betts, she was...
Wed Jul 29, 2026

A guide to Chapel Hill's vibrant music scene
Some of my favorite memories at Chapel Hill have taken place in loud rooms lit by colorful stage lights. Listening to live music with friends...
Tue Jul 28, 2026