Welcome to the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, a place where history and nature intertwine to tell stories of resilience and community. Let’s take a journey back in time to understand how this serene landscape came to be.
The roots of this garden stretch back to the early 19th century around Morgan Creek. It was here that a grist mill, known by many names such as Daniel Mill, Barbee’s Mill, and finally King’s Mill, once stood. The last owners of this mill were Henderson and Cornelia Oldham, an African American couple who purchased the land in the late 19th century. Henderson, born in 1840, was a sharecropper after emancipation, working on land that is now part of the Mason Farm Biological Reserve. His journey from sharecropping to landownership is a testament to perseverance and determination.
The Oldhams’ mill was a hub of community activity, grinding local grain into flour and cornmeal until a devastating flood in 1924 washed it away. This millstone, a fragment of the Oldhams’ legacy, was rediscovered decades later by Boy Scouts and now rests in the Courtyard Gardens of the Botanical Garden, symbolizing the enduring spirit of the past.
Fast forward to 1937, the land found a new steward in William Lanier Hunt, who envisioned a place where nature could be preserved and celebrated. His donations laid the groundwork for the North Carolina Botanical Garden, which officially became part of the University of North Carolina in 1966. Over the decades, the garden has expanded and evolved, including the addition of the American Indian Cultural Garden, a space honoring Indigenous cultures and ecological knowledge.
The garden stands today not only as a celebration of plant diversity but as a monument to the history of the land and its people. As you stroll through its paths, remember the stories of Henderson and Cornelia Oldham, and the many others who have contributed to the rich tapestry of this place.
