Serving as the front door to the University of North Carolina since its very beginnings, Franklin Street is legendary for game days & celebrations, to work, worship, eat, shop, stroll, party, parade and protest. 

We hope to spark memories, challenge remembrances, cause conversations as you reflect and pose questions of the present & future.  Most of all, this tour experience aims to engage & connect you to our local history and the shared treasure that is Franklin Street.

Chapel Hill was named for a travelers’ rest stop, known as  New Hope Chapel on the Hill, originally at the crossroads of Cameron Avenue & Columbia Street, which, today, is the site of the Carolina Inn.  The rest stop is thought to have burned to the ground before 1800.  

The University and our town were created on the same day -  October 12, 1793 - when the cornerstone for Old East, the first University building, was installed in the morning…and, in the afternoon, a public auction of lots was held to create the community of Chapel Hill. The University of North Carolina is the first public university in the United States to open its doors and the only one to award degrees in the 18th century.

The struggle, contributions and legacy of our Black townspeople are integral to our collective story, yet have often remained untold.  “Who built the University?” has a definitive answer: enslaved people. Our goal is to begin to bring together this shared local Black & White history. We encourage you to explore the many included links & resources for a fuller, more complete story. 

Building a factual, collective memory bank of town history is vital to social justice, equity and an understanding of our past. And, as we know, the past is directly connected to the present...and the wondrous possibilities in our future. Together.