On March 11, 1879, the Western North Carolina Railroad’s Swannanoa Tunnel opened. The tunnel opened the mountain region to growth and freed it from its relative state of isolation.
On March 10, 1948, the central building of Highland Hospital in Asheville was destroyed by fire, which swept from the facility’s kitchen through the dumbwaiter to all four floors.
Nine women, including Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, were killed.
On March 10, 1865, Confederate Gen. Wade Hampton surprised Union Gen. Hugh J. Kilpatrick at Monroe’s Crossroads. Kilpatrick’s 3rd Cavalry Division was protecting the left flank of Gen. William T. Sherman’s army as troops headed north.
On March 10, 1764, Governor Arthur Dobbs consented to a request from the Assembly of North Carolina that all remaining military stores at Fort Dobbs be removed.
On March 10, 1918, Edenton residents formed the Cupola House Association, the earliest community preservation effort in North Carolina.
On March 9, 1903, the General Assembly granted brothers B.B. and D.D. (short for Blanford Barnard and Dauphin Disco, respectively) Dougherty a charter for the Appalachian Training School for Teachers.
On March 9, 1966, Herbert Aptheker attempted to speak to students near the Confederate monument at UNC-Chapel Hill.
On March 9, 1891, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was founded as a land grant institution for African Americans.
On March 8, 1865, Gen. William T. Sherman, traveling with the 15th Corps, crossed the state line and entered what is now Scotland County.