November 3, 1835: UNC professor Elisha Mitchell announces discovery of highest peak in eastern U.S.

Posted Nov 3, 2019
On November 3, 1835, Elisha Mitchell, a professor at the University of North Carolina, announced that a peak in the Black Mountains of North Carolina was the highest in the eastern United States. The news aroused considerable interest. He estimated the mountain’s height at 6,672 feet, only twelve feet short of the present official height of 6,684 feet. (NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)

Related: Campus Connections

Video: Carolina Insider - Interview With Former Denver Nuggets Coach and Tar Heel Dad Michael Malone
Former Denver Nuggets Head Coach, Michael Malone, also a proud UNC Volleyball parent, joins Jones Angell and Adam Lucas to talk about what it took...
Mon Apr 6, 2026

Eight UNC students selected as 2026 Carolina Blue Honors Fellows
Eight students from the University of North Carolina were selected as recipients of the 2026 Carolina Blue Honors Fellowship to pursue unique and self-initiated summer...
Sun Apr 5, 2026

Local staple Carrburitos approaches 30 years in business
In April of 1997, a new eatery in Carrboro would emerge, swapping the Texas regionality for a truly California-style experience. Known for their generous portions,...
Sat Apr 4, 2026

UNC's Gedas Bertasius uses basketball to train computers
Today, the same instincts that once helped Gedas Bertasius scan a basketball court — where the pass is headed, how the defense might collapse —...
Tue Mar 31, 2026