UNC Charlotte dates its founding to 1946, when the Charlotte Center opened its doors as a night school for returning World War II veterans. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the university, Special Collections & University Archives staff have created a self-guided walking tour (https://theclio.com/tour/2021) which we are unveiling for Founder’s Day, September 23.
This online tour can be enjoyed while on campus or from any location, making it the perfect way to learn about UNC Charlotte history while practicing social distancing. You can access the tour on mobile devices through the Clio app or a web browser, and you can also print it to carry along while taking the tour in person.
The tour currently features 16 points of interest dating back to the groundbreaking on the current location of the main campus in 1961. It includes significant facts from primary and secondary sources as well as current and historical images of places on campus.
Locations featured in the tour include some of the earliest buildings constructed on the main campus such as the Kennedy and Macy buildings, newer additions to campus such as the Jerry Richardson Stadium, and even locations that have changed significantly over time, such as Belk Plaza.
There is something for all Niners--from seasoned alumni to newcomers to campus--to learn on this tour, whether you take it virtually or in-person. We hope you enjoy it, and if there is a place we didn’t feature that you would like to know about, drop us a line at spec-coll@uncc.edu. We may be able to add it to the tour!
--Rita Johnston
Image: This image of Belk Tower, circa 1970s-1980s, from UNC Charlotte Photographs, is one of many historical photos you will find on the self-guided virtual/walking tour of UNC Charlotte