Attractions

The largest natural botanical garden in the southeast, consisting of nearly 800 acres of preserved land with nature trails, carnivorous plant collections, aquatics and herb gardens. Also offers revolving exhibits of paintings, quilts and other media, plus sculpture in various sections of the botanical collection. Free guided tours of the display gardens every Sat (Mar-Nov), 10am. Parking. In 2008, the garden began construction of a new “green” Visitors Center to include an auditorium, classrooms and gift shop.

Orange County Historical Museum

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201 North Churton St (Downtown)
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Directions

phone (919) 732-2201

Open Tues-Sat., 11am-4 pm, Sun., 1-4pm.

Located on the site of North Carolina’s 1788 Constitutional convention, the museum interprets the history of Orange County from pre-settlement period through the 1950s. Its collection includes the only complete set of Colonial weights and measures in the U.S. and the desk of Governor Thomas Burke. A second-floor gallery features special exhibits on local history. Suggested donation, $2.

UNC Visitors’ Center

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250 East Franklin St (West Lobby)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3475

Directions

phone (919) 962-1630

Open Mon.-Fri., 9am-5pm.

Enhance your Carolina experience!

Have a question? Touring Chapel Hill? Want to learn more about campus? At the UNC Visitors’ Center, visitors may obtain information on everything from history to hotels to restaurants to campus events and more! An interactive touch screen can direct visitors to anywhere they need to go on campus. Visitors may also take advantage of a self-guided recorded tour, complete with music and interesting facts covering the landmarks and legends of UNC’s historic campus. Student-led tours of campus, highlighting the past, present and future Carolina, are also available Monday through Friday.

Williams (Horace) House

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610 East Rosemary St (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Directions

phone (919) 942-7818

Open Tue.-Fri., 10am-4pm; Sun., 1-4pm; closed Sat., major holidays and first two weeks in Aug. (1-17).

The only historic house in Chapel Hill open to the public. This 19th-century house was owned by a succession of University professors. On the death of Horace Williams, a UNC philosophy professor and the last owner-occupant, the University of North Carolina became the sole owner of the house named for him. Restored in 1974, the house is maintained by the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill as a cultural resource and art exhibition space. Guided tours of historic Franklin Street leave the Horace Williams House each Wed. and Sun at 2 pm. Cost $5. Guided walking tours suspended during entire month of August.

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Did You Know?

The Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission coordinates numerous art exhibits throughout Chapel Hill each year at Town Hall, the Library and other town locations.