From Founding Fields to Playing Fields: Explore the Legacy That Shapes Us

ORANGE SLICES

By Laurie Paolicelli
Guest Columnist

Governor Josh Stein, Michael Brown, and other locals celebrated for youth sports wins.

In downtown Hillsborough, where Churton Street meets Tryon Street, the Orange County Historical Museum invites you to go on two journeys this summer — one that examines the games we play; the other that celebrates freedom and the fight for independence that began in colonial in North Carolina.

Currently on display in the Museum is an exhibit called SCORE! With the understanding that life is not a spectator sport, the exhibit explores the importance of youth sports and how they have changed over time in Orange County. Sports have played an essential role in the lives of young people in Orange County. They:

• Improved physical fitness and promoted mental health
• Taught essential skills, discipline, and societal values
• Fostered friendships and built camaraderie
• Contributed to a sense of identity and community
• Helped young people face challenges and persevere

SCORE! Mighty Tigers Exhibit

SCORE! explores how sports have helped define and inspire the American spirit. From Little League diamonds to Olympic podiums, athletics have long served as a powerful force for inclusion, character-building, and leadership. In Orange County, young athletes who were once coached on neighborhood fields and asphalt courts have gone on to make their mark in professional sports and public service. These stories aren’t just about wins and losses — they’re about how communities grow stronger when they come together.

But this is just one layer of a deeper story. As you move through displays of vintage uniforms and worn newspaper clippings, you’re not just immersed in athletic achievement — you’re witnessing the perseverance, vision, and grit that was also present in a time and place none of us were here to witness: Hillsborough in 1775.

Hillsborough High Sports Heroes

But youth sports have also been in the center of many social issues like:

• Integration
• Women’s rights
• Economic advancement
• Disability Rights
• Free speech
• Racial sensitivity with mascots
• Transgender rights

Accordingly, the exhibit focuses on 11 core sports and spotlights athletes with heart, those who displayed outstanding sportsmanship and citizenship. Included in the displays are clothing, equipment, photos and other mementos that former players have lovingly saved over the years as well as stories of prevailing in the face of obstacles like racism, sexism, economic disparities, and disabilities. 68 community members shared their stories and loaned items to make the exhibit so dynamic. Exhibits and Programs Coordinator Courtney Smith stated, “We are delighted to have this level of participation. Our goal is to serve as a community center that preserves memories. My philosophy when curating exhibits is, ‘Your Stories; Your Museum.’”

The athletes in the exhibit represent a tiny fraction of those who participated in youth sports over the years. Although their stories are unique, when combined, these accounts help to illuminate common experiences that young athletes share. They all dedicated their time to activities that built community and shaped the history of Orange County.

SCORE! Wall of Fame and gratitude for youth sports.

Concurrent with this exhibit is a display created by the Chapel Hill Historical Society on the 100-year history of sports in Chapel Hill. Highlights of this display include a Michael Jordan jersey, the tiger mascot from Lincoln High School, and information about Priscilla Ann Freeman, the fourteen year-old girl who placed fifth in the National Soapbox Derby in 1972.

Then, on September 6, the Museum in collaboration with the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Eagle Lodge #19 AF&AM, and Spirit Freedom, will host “A Celebration of the Third Provincial Congress: Transforming Visions of Freedom into Reality. The full day of activities will include:

• Academic speakers discussing the proceedings of the assembly, the short and long-term legacy of the Congress, and the experiences of marginalized communities.
• A dramatization featuring a multimedia presentation showcasing the story and significance of the Third Provincial Congress, followed by costumed interpreters delivering some iconic resolutions and speeches from the Congress.
• A colonial market featuring community groups, museums, vendors, and re-enactors.

These programs will occur in various locations around downtown Hillsborough.

The Third Provincial Congress was one of the most important steps in North Carolina’s path to declaring independence in 1776 and its ongoing journey toward realizing a vision of freedom. Yet, few people in North Carolina are aware not only of this momentous event, but also of the major role that Hillsborough played during the Revolutionary War period.

Orange County Historical Museum today.

Site Manager Catie Atkinson asserted, “We are extremely excited to be able to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this historic event that was vital to the Revolutionary movement in North Carolina. To make this event possible, we are proud to collaborate with so many other organizations who are concerned with sharing both local and state history.”

Funding for the celebration is being provided by exceptionally generous grants from America 250 NC, an initiative by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the John William Pope Foundation.

SCORE! Wall of Fame

For more information about the event, including a schedule for the day, please visit www.3rdpc250.org.

Photos:

• The story of the founding of Rainbow Soccer, an integral part of Chapel Hill history since the 1970s, highlights youth initiative and determination
• Learn how clothing, equipment, and rules have changed over time
• These artifacts talk! They tell stories of struggles and triumphs
• Kids are invited to try on hockey gear

Lincoln High School Band and Majorettes, 1969

Plan Your Visit

Located at Churton Street & Tryon Street, Downtown Hillsborough

Hours:

• Monday – Tuesday, Thursday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Wednesday: By appointment
• Saturday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

🔗 Learn more at www.orangehistorync.org

SCORE! Exhibit

Share your thoughts with me here,

Laurie Paolicelli

Disclaimer: Published by Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Public Relations team, this story includes interviews and repurposed content from websites and partner press releases. For more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie Paolicelli.

Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This reporter can be reached at Information@TheLocalReporter.press