January 15, 1795: UNC Holds Its Opening Ceremony

Posted Jan 15, 2018
UNC held its opening ceremony on January 15, 1795, and soon after became the first state university to enroll students. The winter of 1794-1795 had been rough, and the roads were a muddy mess. It was a cold, windy, rainy day and the area looked more like a construction site than a college campus. Only the East Building and the unpainted wooden house of the Presiding Professor had been completed. (UNC.edu)

Related: Campus Connections

When a Cold War trip to the USSR turned into a bizarre basketball game for UNC faculty and students
50 yrs ago, one of the most bizarre & hilariously mismatched basketball games in UNC history took place – and almost no one knows about...
Wed Apr 29, 2026

‘A space to breathe:’ The Coker Arboretum’s enduring legacy
There once was just one tree in the space that is now the Coker Arboretum. More than 120 years later, that overcup oak still stands...
Mon Apr 27, 2026

Rick Dees - UNC alum, legendary radio DJ, and singer - turns 76
Rick Dees was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised in Greensboro, NC. He began his radio career in high school at a Greensboro radio station...
Sun Apr 26, 2026

From a Dirt Road to a Destination: A History of Franklin Street
In Chapel Hill, Franklin Street has been the main thoroughfare for decades and a must-see destination. When residents welcome guests to town, they take them...
Fri Apr 24, 2026