UNC Chapel Hill Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near UNC Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Why Walk UNC Chapel Hill Campus
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chartered in 1789, is the oldest public university in the US to hold classes. The campus centers on Polk Place, a long quad flanked by Federal and Classical Revival brick buildings. South Building, completed in 1814, is one of the oldest state university buildings in the South. The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, a 167-foot landmark, plays concerts on its 12 bells. Wilson Library, a 1929 neoclassical building, houses rare books and the North Carolina Collection. The modern Genome Sciences Building reflects UNC's strength in biomedical research. The Dean E. Smith Center ('the Dean Dome') seats 21,750 for Tar Heel basketball. Franklin Street, the commercial strip bordering the north edge of campus, is the heart of Chapel Hill's college town culture.
About UNC Chapel Hill
Founded
Chartered in 1789; first students admitted in 1795, making it one of the oldest public universities in the United States and the first to begin instruction.
Type
Public flagship research university, part of the University of North Carolina System.
Setting
College town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Orange County), about 28 miles northwest of Raleigh. Part of the Research Triangle alongside Duke in Durham and NC State in Raleigh. Franklin Street runs along the north edge of campus and is the main commercial strip.
Enrollment
About 32,000 total students: roughly 20,000 undergraduate and 12,000 graduate and professional, by recent enrollment counts.
Mascot
Rameses, a live Horned Dorset ram (a costumed version also appears at games). Teams are the Tar Heels; school colors are Carolina blue and white.
Free UNC Chapel Hill Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free UNC Chapel Hill campus tour with audio narration. Explore Polk Place, Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, Wilson Library, plus hidden spots like Coker Arboretum and The Forest Theatre, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
explore by interest
Must-See Spots at UNC Chapel Hill
- •Polk Place — the central quad stretching between South Building and Wilson Library, the heart of campus since the early 1800s
- •Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower — a 167-foot campanile with 15 bells, visible across campus and a symbol of UNC
- •Wilson Library — a 1929 neoclassical library with Corinthian columns and a rotunda, now housing special collections
- •The Old Well — a small neoclassical rotunda styled after the Temple of Love at Versailles, the university's most recognizable symbol
Signature Architecture
- •Old Well — Small neoclassical rotunda whose design is attributed to the Temple of Love at Versailles; redesigned in 1897 under university president Edwin Alderman. The campus's most photographed landmark.
- •Old East — Cornerstone laid October 12, 1793; the oldest state university building in the U.S. still in use, now housing student residences. October 12 is celebrated as University Day.
- •Wilson Library — Beaux-Arts building opened in 1929 with a domed reading room; holds special collections including the North Carolina Collection and the Southern Historical Collection.
- •Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower — Freestanding bell tower completed in 1931, funded by John Motley Morehead III and Rufus Lenoir Patterson; its chimes mark the hours.
- •Dean E. Smith Center — Basketball arena opened in 1986, seating about 21,750; home of the men's basketball team and nicknamed the 'Dean Dome' after coach Dean Smith.
Hidden Corners of UNC Chapel Hill
- •Coker Arboretum — a 5-acre botanical garden established in 1903 on the north edge of campus with mature specimens and winding paths
- •The Forest Theatre — an outdoor stone amphitheater nestled in the woods on the south side of campus, used for student performances since 1919
Notable Alumni
- •James K. Polk, 11th U.S. President (graduated 1818)
- •Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer who hit the title-winning shot for UNC in the 1982 NCAA final
- •Andy Griffith, actor
- •Mia Hamm, two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup-winning soccer player
- •Lewis Black, comedian
- •Frank Porter Graham, U.S. Senator and former UNC System president
- •Stuart Scott, ESPN sportscaster
Campus Traditions
- •Drinking from the Old Well on the first day of classes, said to bring good luck and good grades for the semester
- •Storming Franklin Street to celebrate big basketball wins, especially beating Duke or winning the national championship
- •University Day on October 12, marking the 1793 laying of Old East's cornerstone
- •The Battle of the Blues, the storied UNC-Duke basketball rivalry along Tobacco Road
- •The Davie Poplar legend, the tree on McCorkle Place said to ensure the university stands as long as it does
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Sutton's Drug Store on Franklin Street, a soda-fountain lunch counter operating since 1923, known for burgers and grilled cheese
- •Time-Out on Franklin Street, famous for fried chicken biscuits
- •Mama Dip's Kitchen, a longtime Southern and soul food restaurant
- •Al's Burger Shack, a frequently award-winning local burger joint
- •Top of the Hill, a brewery and restaurant overlooking the Franklin Street and Columbia Street corner
Did you know? UNC's Morehead Planetarium trained NASA astronauts in celestial navigation from the early 1960s into the 1970s; Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts practiced star recognition there in case onboard instruments failed.
Visiting UNC Chapel Hill
The Undergraduate Admissions Office offers official information sessions and student-led campus walking tours; reserve in advance through admissions.unc.edu as slots fill and schedules vary by season. The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on Franklin Street is open to the public with paid shows. Self-guided visitors can walk the historic core (Old Well, McCorkle Place quad, Old East and Old West) freely. Visitor parking is limited; the Morehead Planetarium parking deck and metered or visitor lots are the main options, and Franklin Street has paid public parking. Game-day and event-day access is heavily restricted, so confirm parking before arriving.
Walking Tip
The campus is compact and mostly flat. Start at the Old Well on Cameron Avenue, walk through Polk Place to Wilson Library, then explore Franklin Street. The Bell Tower is a short walk northwest of Polk Place.
Best Time to Visit
Fall for football season and foliage. Spring (March-April) for dogwoods and azaleas. Franklin Street is lively during the academic year, especially on basketball game nights.
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