ECU Centennial
“Covering the period, 1901-1911, the ECU Centennial Exhibit is an effort to make available to a wide audience a variety of insights into the early history and growth of what is now known as East Carolina University. Through images, documents and commentaries of actual participants, the exhibit traces the complex but rewarding relationships that developed between the Eastern North Carolina community and the fledgling college. From the original idea for a state training school, through the struggle over legislative approval, to the first graduating class, the exhibit brings the early history of ECU to life and light. Without pretending to encompass the whole story of ECU’s establishment, the exhibit attempts faithfully to follow the ups and downs of what came to be East Carolina University."

Bismarck once said: "Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made." That may be good advice to those who like laws or sausages; perhaps it is not so good advice to lovers of history. Indeed, the approach of ECU's centennial, in 2007, is the appropriate time to reflect on its early history and the ECU Centennial Exhibit is an ideal place to begin to learn how ECU was "made." The ECU Centennial Exhibit is directed at a general audience; it is informative and lively; it is both historically accurate and accessible. Nevertheless, it will also be useful and interesting to scholars and other experts. My advice to anyone interested in ECU's history is to explore the ECU Centennial Exhibit."