From Cotton to Chromosomes
What do a textile mill and precision nutrition have in common?
Follow the transformation of a town built on textiles into a
community advancing nutrition science and human health.
Scholar's Cove
The Scholar’s Cove is a dedicated study, intern, and community space located on the ground floor of the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC.
“Think Lab”: Designed to complement research laboratories, this collaborative, modern “think lab” gives students and researchers a quiet, dedicated area for concentration and academic productivity.
Historical Exhibit: The cove houses the pictorial exhibit titled “Kannapolis: From Cotton to Chromosomes,” which is open to visiting members of the public.
Stop 01
1906–1908
A Town Built on Cotton
J.W. Cannon purchased 808 acres of farmland and began building a new mill town. By 1908, sheet and towel production had begun in Kannapolis.
Stop 02
1962
A Manufacturing Powerhouse
Cannon Mills employed more than 20,000 people across 12 mills and ranked among North Carolina’s three largest employers.
Stop 03
2003
The Mill Era Ends
The Pillowtex Corporation closed its doors, eliminating 7,650 jobs in one day. Of those employees, 4,340 worked in Kannapolis or the surrounding counties.
Stop 04
2004–2005
A New Vision Takes Shape
David H. Murdock repurchased the former Cannon Mills Plant One property. Plans soon emerged for a $1.5 billion scientific and economic revitalization project.
Stop 05
2008
Discovery Opens Its Doors
Open house and dedication ceremonies celebrated the opening of the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, and NC State’s Fruit and Vegetable Science Institute.
Stop 06
Today
Precision Nutrition. Better Health.
Today, NRI scientists study why people respond differently to foods and nutrients—advancing precision nutrition through research, education, and scientific discovery.
The next chapter
The story is still
being written.
Every participant, student, scientist, partner,
and supporter helps move discovery forward.