Recreating Campus Life
A look back at WCU's campus
Western Carolina University's campus has changed in many ways over the years. What once was a college solely for educating teachers, has now grown to offer multiple majors. Many buildings that once stood as dormitories, educational facilities, and dining halls no longer stand. The landscape around the buildings has also changed. Scroll down and view the different ways that the campus has transformed.
In 1966, the Killian Education and Psychology building opened for classes. The building is named after Carl Dan Killian, a dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions. The photo to the left is from the 1970s. Today, the landscape around Killian has changed, though the building itself has not. A large sign notes the various offices now housed in the Killian Annex. Behind a tree, a sculpture of the Cherokee character, "wi," is a monument to the relationship that the land has with the Cherokee people. Where the Killian building now stands, is where a Cherokee mound once stood until it was demolished to make way for the educational building.
Marker shows Killian Education
What is now part of the Killian Annex, the Clinic Annex was originally the Smoky Mountain Mental Health Center. The building was built in 1968. Today, the building houses advising offices after a remodel in 2005. The landscape around the building has not changed much except for the addition of a large, purple chair that sits nearby. The window of the Killian Annex displays an image of the student section at a football game.
Marker shows Killian Annex
Dodson Cafeteria first opened in 1966 as a dining hall. The cafeteria was named after Clinton F. Dodson, a head of the Department of Science. It was torn down in 2009 to create new housing. The site where Dodson once stood is near Blue Ridge Residence Hall today. To replace Dodson, the Courtyard Dining Hall was built nearby. The photo on the left shows students exiting Dodson in the 1960s, while the photo on the right shows the location of where Dodson once stood today.
Marker shows Dodson Cafeteria
Named after college business manager, A. Keith Hinds, the A.K. Hinds University Center sits in the center of campus. It opened in 1968 and replaced the Old Student Union. To this day, events are still held on the lawn outside the University Center. The image on the right is of the Center for Career and Professional Development's Career Carnival. Since the photo on the left was taken the landscape around the UC has changed, along with the addition of several new buildings. Dodson, Leatherwood Residence Hall, and Helder Residence Hall no longer sit across from the UC.
Marker shows the University Center
Built in 1960, the Bird Administration building now houses WCU Health Services. The Bird building is named after William Ernest Bird, a two-time acting President of the University and long-term faculty and administrator. The photos were taken from the University Auditorium's entrance. The Auditorium was completed in 1939 and was named Hoey Auditorium after Governor Clyde Hoey, and still holds musical theater performances. It housed several studios, practice rooms, and a classroom. Hoey's name was eventually removed from the building in 2020 due to Hoey favoring racial segregation. The photo from the left is from 1969 and shows student life.
Purple marker shows the Bird Building and yellow marker show the Auditorium
The Reid Health and Physical Education Building was dedicated in 1957. It is named after WCU's fifth president, Paul A. Reid. It was one of the first buildings to sit on the central part of campus. The construction of the building contributed to expanding athletic facilities on campus. The building housed an athletic arena that had 2,600 seats until the expansion of the area to hold 4,000 seats in 1965. In the photo to the left, two students walk through the snow after leaving Reid. The photo on the right is from 2024 and shows students walking to their classes held in Reid. One noticeable change in the two photos is the new Campus Recreation Center.
Marker shows Reid Gymnasium
Forsyth Business houses the College of Business and has since its opening in 1970. The building is named after W. Frank Forsyth, a bank official from Murphy, NC, and former state senator. The photo on the left is from the 1980s. Notice that Scott and Walker Residence Halls stand in the background. The entranceway to Forsyth has changed over the years.
Marker shows Forsyth Building
The Belk Building opened in 1971 and is named after Carol Grotnes Belk, the wife of Irwin Belk. Irwin Belk was the son of the founder of Belk, the department store. Together, the Belks financially supported WCU. Today the Belk Building houses the College of Engineering and Technology, the School of Stage and Screen, and the Writing and Learning Commons (WALC). The photo on the left is from the early 80s and shows a professor teaching students how to survey land. This still occurs around the Belk Building today.
Marker shows the Belk Building
The nine-story Scott Residence Hall opened in 1968. It was named after Mary White Scott, the mother of the then-Governor Robert Scott. When it opened, the building served as a women's dormitory. Scott Hall was demolished in 2020. The photo on the right shows the new Shining Rock Residence Hall, one of three additions built where Scott Hall once stood.
Marker shows Scott Residence Hall
Helder Residence Hall opened in 1966 and was demolished in 2009. The residence hall was named after H. A. Helder, a benefactor of the school. Where it once stood sits the Courtyard Dining Hall. The landscape of the area has changed significantly since when the photo on the left was taken. Now a fountain sits across from the dining hall.
Marker shows Helder Residence Hall
