Across the globe from Vietnam, effects of the war reverberate through the state, where social and political perspectives are shifting quickly and dramatically.
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.
The 1960s: In the Spirit of Service
The Cherokee Boys Club transforms the lives of its members — and the community — with help from its manager. Although not a Cherokee by blood, his devotion earns him honorary status in the tribe.
The 1960s: The Concerts That Helped Desegregate ECU
Although slow to desegregate, one college shifts racial sentiments on campus not with court orders or violence — but through the power of music.
The 1960s: The Class Acts
In the 1960s, with the expansion of the Consolidated University of North Carolina and the state’s community college system, more North Carolinians than ever head to college classrooms.
Riding My Thumb
Memories of hitchhiking across North Carolina — and the United States — in the 1970s never dimmed for this author.
The 1960s: The Fast Cars and Outlaw Heroes of NASCAR
Thanks to the grit of its drivers and the thrill of its events, the sport started by moonshiners shifts into high gear. Born on the dirt tracks of the North Carolina Piedmont, stock car racing becomes a national pastime.
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.
Shaped by Words
Discover the North Carolina writers who inspired our state’s wordsmiths — and find some inspiration for your own “to-read” list.
