In 1980s North Carolina, immigrants from Asia and around the world find refuge from war, freedom from persecution, and fresh opportunities. In return, they weave new strands of art and culture into the tapestry of our state.
The 1980s: Pioneers of the Piedmont
When two scientists from Research Triangle Park win a Nobel Prize, their victory represents the fulfillment of the park’s original mission: to make world-class science part of North Carolina’s DNA.
The 1980s: Michael Jordan Changes the Game
Before he was the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan was an athletic kid from Wilmington. In 1981, he heads to Chapel Hill to hone the skills and competitive spirit that launch him to superstardom.
The 1980s: A Judge of Fine Character
From his childhood on a farm in Richmond County to his barrier-breaking achievements on the North Carolina Supreme Court, Henry Frye builds his life and career on a foundation of hard work and integrity.
The 1980s: The Decade of Local Heroes
After a period of radical change, North Carolinians enter the 1980s with renewed energy and optimism. The time is right for men and women of passion and talent to step up and make their mark on our state.
The 1970s: The Heart of Soul City
In Warren County, civil rights leader Floyd McKissick lays the foundation for a community built on equality — and although it fails to materialize, his core values live on.
The 1970s: A Seat on the Bench
From her roots in Reidsville, Susie Sharp blazes a trail to the North Carolina Supreme Court, becoming the first female chief justice in state history.
The 1970s: The Modern Pioneers
For environmentalists and “Back to the Land” homesteaders seeking a new way of life, a magazine published in Hendersonville guides that way.
The 1970s: Fatal Distraction
On September 11, 1974, Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 goes down near Charlotte, the crash — one of the worst in state history — initiates lasting changes to the rules surrounding takeoffs and landings.
