Morehead Planetarium, The First of Its Kind in the South

Posted Jun 10, 2018
On May 10, 1949, the Morehead Planetarium opened on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. It was first planetarium in the South, the first planetarium on a university campus and the sixth planetarium to be built nationwide. The planetarium was primarily a gift of John Motley Morehead III, an 1891 graduate and founder of Union Carbide Corporation. (NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)

Related: Campus Connections

The multigenerational experiences of being a Tar Heel
Some parents encourage their children to attend their alma mater, while others watch them find their own path to Chapel Hill. Either way, UNC draws...
Wed Jan 28, 2026

UNC students sled, ski and play in the snow: 'The vibe is joyous out here'
In true North Carolina snow day fashion, the streets of Chapel Hill were alive with groups of people sledding on cardboard slabs, attempting to make...
Tue Jan 27, 2026

The Story Behind That Perfect Final Scene in ESPN’s Stuart Scott ‘30 for 30’
The final scene in ESPN’s 30 for 30 “Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott” is a Top 10 highlight if I’ve ever seen one. And...
Sun Jan 25, 2026

UNC-Chapel Hill announces plans to develop campus extension in Carolina North
UNC is proud to announce the development of a new campus extension in Carolina North, a generational investment in its academic mission, public impact, and...
Wed Jan 21, 2026