The 1960s aren’t that long ago for many North Carolinians, because, as they say… “time flies when you’re having fun.” But for others, the 1960s are a world away. Whichever side of that equation best fits your position, you’re still likely to find the following photos of the Tar Heel State in the 1960s a nostalgic step back in time.
- North Carolina has experienced its share of major snow storms. This 12-foot snowbank photo was captured in 1960, somewhere in Western North Carolina.
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
- Life in North Carolina in the 60s may have been less complicated by gadgets and modern conveniences, but some things remained absolutely the same, like the need to stop for a fill up. The photo below was snapped in 1960 in Caldwell County.
Flickr/Hilary Kanupp Perez
- Pounding Mill Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway is located at Milepost 413.2. The photo below, from 1963, shows two forestry workers visually surveying the Pisgah National Forest from the overlook.
Flickr/Forest History Society
- Construction on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge was completed in the 1960s. It featured a steel vertical lift in the center that could raise up 123 feet. It’s shown here under construction in 1966.
Flickr/Lee
- The first North Carolina State Fair took place in October of 1853. Shown here is a promotional display erected by the U.S. Air Force at the entrance to the fair in 1965.
Flickr/Government & Heritage Library, State Library of NC
- The USS North Carolina was decommissioned in 1947. More than a decade later, school children donated their spare change until $300,000 was raised to purchase the ship from the U.S. Navy in order to save her. In this October 1961 photo, a fleet of tugboats maneuvers the 728-foot battleship up the Cape Fear River to its current location in Wilmington.
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
- Tom Haywood’s Kicking Machine was a regular stop on the vacation circuit for many. It was located in Croaton. (The photo may be a little older than 1960, but the famous kicking machine was around until at least 1960.)
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
- When Raleigh’s Cameron Village opened in 1949, it was considered the largest shopping center in the South. It’s pictured here in 1964.
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
- Dan K. Moore was the 66th Governor of North Carolina. Elected in 1964, he was inaugurated in January 1965. This photo was taken in Fayetteville during the inauguration.
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
- The J.S. Dorton Arena opened in Raleigh in 1952. It’s shown here in 1963 during a Forestry exhibit during the N.C. State Fair.
Flickr/Forest History Society
- On April 1, 1967, the North Carolina National Guard flew its first mission to Vietnam. The crew of that flight is shown here just before departure from Douglas Municipal Airport. (Click the small credit below this photo to see a list of the crew members.)
Facebook/North Carolina National Guard Museum
- In the 1960s, full-service gas stations were still a thing. Now, they’re a thing of the past. The full-service Esso station shown in the c. 1961 image below was located next the U.S. Post Office in Brevard.
NC History Blog
Want to see more rare and vintage photos of North Carolina’s past? Check out these rare images from 1936. Wow!
Facebook/North Carolina Museum of History
Flickr/Hilary Kanupp Perez
Flickr/Forest History Society
Flickr/Lee
Flickr/Government & Heritage Library, State Library of NC
Facebook/North Carolina National Guard Museum
NC History Blog
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