The Myth of the Wilson Library Dunce Cap

Posted Nov 26, 2019
Have you heard the story that the Bell Tower was intentionally placed right behind Wilson Library so that, when viewed from South Building, the top of the tower looks like a dunce cap on the round dome of the library? The dunce cap story has been one of the enduring campus legends for decades. The story originally told was that John Motley Morehead. (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

90-year-old Triad neurosurgeon ‘finally’ earns UNC undergraduate degree
Dr. David L. Kelly Jr. says this moment is a dream come true. “I’m finally getting my undergraduate degree because I lacked one course by...
Tue Jan 6, 2026

UNC School of Pharmacy retains No. 1 ranking for external research funding
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy has retained its No. 1 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy ranking for external research funding among U.S. schools...
Mon Jan 5, 2026

A Victory of ‘Time and Patience’: Live and Local with Tift Merritt
Local music legend Tift Merritt stopped by Live & Local, following the release of a pair of albums: the 20th-anniversary re-release of her Grammy-nominated sophomore...
Sun Jan 4, 2026

UNC Class of 2025 celebrates at Winter Commencement
Winter Commencement on Dec. 14 gave families, friends, students, and faculty the chance to celebrate graduates’ hard work and Carolina experiences that prepared them for...
Fri Jan 2, 2026