Topics Related to Historical Markers
Founded here in 1881 by David and William White. Furnishings were sold widely. Plant was rebuilt after fire in 1923.
Morehead Planetarium trained NASA astronauts in celestial navigation for Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab missions, 1960-75. Dome 450 ft. S.
Delegates debated U.S. Constitution, July 21-Aug. 4, 1788, & voted to delay ratification until bill of rights was added. Met 100 yards S.W.
Educator & civil rights activist. Chair, Education Dept., N.C. College for Negroes, 1948-1963. Her grave is nearby.
“Libba” Cotten composed, recorded “Freight Train” (1958). Key figure, 1960s folk revival. Born and raised on Lloyd Street.
Orange County sheriff in War of Regulation, 1770-1771; brigadier general, N.C. militia, 1777-84. Lived ¼ mi. N.
In 1947 the Congress of Racial Equality & local citizens, black & white, protested bus segregation. Setting out from Washington, D.C., "freedom riders" tested compliance with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring segregation on interstate buses. On April 13, riders arrived at local bus station then 20 yards west. A mob attacked one rider. Four others were arrested and sentenced to 30 days on chain gangs.
Founder of Burlington Mills, 1924; success of rayon propelled world's largest textile company. "Pioneer Plant" 3/4 mi. S.
Jazz composer & pianist. Wrote "Take the A Train" and other songs for Duke Ellington Orchestra. Boyhood home site 1/4 mi. W.
Textile mill 100 yds. N.E. target of strike, 1958-61. Effort failed, led to bombings that bolstered antiunionism.