Unsung Founders Memorial, Memorial monument at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus, United States
The Unsung Founders Memorial is a monument on the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus made from a black granite table supported by 300 bronze figurines. Five stone seats surround the installation, creating a space where visitors can sit and take in the work.
The memorial was funded by the Class of 2002, who raised money to bring this project to life. It was created to acknowledge the contributions of people whose work had been left out of the university's history.
The inscription on the granite table honors enslaved and free people of color who contributed to building the university. Visitors can pause here to reflect on a side of the institution's past that was long overlooked.
The memorial sits at the campus entrance and is freely accessible to all visitors passing through the grounds. It serves as a natural stopping point during campus walks or guided tours.
Each of the 300 bronze figures is an individual sculpture made in its own way, yet all together they support the table. This variation in style shows how different people played different roles in founding the university, yet all were essential.
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