Higher Education
Known at the time as the Asheville-Biltmore college, this university was NC’s first state-funded community college. It is now known as the only designated liberal arts university in the UNC System.
UNC-Asheville
Born in NC, this place was the first of its kind in the United States, allowing North Carolinians public access to famous international works of sculpture, paintings, and furniture.
NC Museum of Art
This famous pirate was killed in a battle with British naval forces off the coast of Okracoke Island in 1718.
Blackbeard
The winningest college basketball coach of all time.
Coach K
One of the greatest sports movies of all time, this 1980s film follows a minor-league baseball team in the Triangle.
Bull Durham
North Carolina Central University, Elizabeth City State University, and Fayetteville State University were all founded by graduates of this institution, the oldest HBCU in the South.
Shaw University
Often incorrectly assumed to have been created in another state, this popular condiment brand was born in Winston-Salem, NC.
Texas Pete
The state of NC didn’t have one of these until 1861, when the state voted to secede and join the confederacy.
A state flag
One of the astronauts in the first all-women spacewalk, Christina Koch (pronounced like COKE) received all three of her degrees from this NC institution.
NCSU
You’ll find this band rocking out of Durham, NC, not on the side of a cliff.
The Mountain Goats
In August of 2013, the UNC System Board of Governors unanimously voted to ban this on all 16 public NC campuses, forcing UNC-Chapel Hill officials to relocate a handful of students just 8 days before they were to move back on-campus. The ban is still in effect today.
Gender-neutral or gender-inclusive housing
This keyboard shortcut was invented in about 5 minutes by former IBM employee David Bradley in NC’s Research Triangle Park. It was not originally meant for public use, but rather for software developers to reset early computers without having to completely shut them down.
Ctrl-Alt-Delete
Though Cheerwine is a blessed favorite of North Carolinians, this beverage was designated the official state beverage in 1987.
Milk
This eastern NC native served a record four terms as Governor, though not consecutively
James “Jim” B Hunt
Mayberry Days is an annual festival in Mount Airy, celebrating this sitcom.
The Andy Griffith Show
Established in 1837 by Quakers, Guilford College did not allow this until 1887.
Singing
This Greenville, NC born fast-food chain ran the state’s burger and fries game starting in 1960 until 2 other NC fast-food giants, Bojangles’ and Cook Out, arrived in 1977 and 1989.
Hardee’s
On June 4, 2022 this Eastern NC city hosted its very first official LGBTQ+ Pride celebration.
Wilson
This “Hangover” actor didn’t just play a doctor on TV. He also received his M.D. from the UNC School of Medicine in 1995.
Ken Jeong
This teen drama series, running from 2003-2012, was mostly filmed in Wilmington, but took place in a fictional NC town
One Tree Hill
Proudly known as “Belles”, Black women from this NC college helped spearhead the Sit-In Movement at the Woolworth's Lunch Counter alongside the Greensboro Four in 1960.
Bennett College
Don Clayton conceived this *small* but family friendly game in NC. His company has locations all over the state (as well as in Australia, Japan, and South Africa) with the most locations in Myrtle Beach.
Putt Putt Golf
Once known as Freedom Hill, this North Carolina town was the first in the state to be founded by freed enslaved people in 1865. It was incorporated by Edgecombe County in 1885.
Princeville
NC has been well represented on the American Idol stage, but this High Point native was the first winner.
Fantasia Barrino
The chorus to this popular song about traveling to North Carolina was written in 1973 by Bob Dylan, 25 years before the rest of it was written.
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show