Decades Series
The 1960s: Crossing into the Future in Wilmington
On the cusp of a new decade, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is completed in Wilmington. The modern bridge is an icon of the fast-growing city, a connection to the rest of the state, and a promise of big things to come.
by Philip Gerard
The 1960s: The State of Literature
In the 1960s, a renewed focus on culture and education brings a burst of energy to the state's literary scene: Writers sing North Carolina's praises in poetry and prose.
The 1960s: How Cape Lookout Became a National Seashore
By 1965, the diamond-patterned lighthouse has helped keep seafarers safe for more than a century. Now, a new kind of coastal protection takes shape for the pristine stretch of the Outer Banks.
The 1960s: North Carolina's First Professional Basketball Team Mounts a Full-Court Press
In 1969, North Carolina bounds onto the national court: Fans across the Piedmont rally to support the state's first pro basketball team, the Carolina Cougars.
The Great Blizzard of 1960
The decade blows in with a series of winter storms that threaten to incapacitate the High Country. But residents are resilient — and the rest of the state mobilizes to help.
The 1960s: A Dynamic Decade
Momentum has been building, and by the early 1960s, the payoff is clear: Now in the national spotlight, North Carolina enters an era of action and activism.