November 4, 1987 - Democratic Mayor Harvey Gantt is defeated by Republican opponent Sue Myrick. He will run for the U.S. Senate in 1990 and 1996, but will be unable to beat the incumbent Senator, Jesse Helms. Mayor Gantt defeated by Sue Myrick
March 12, 1988 - Famed artist Romare Bearden dies in New York City. Recently, the public library commissioned Bearden for an original collage from which a mosaic will be based. Nanette Bearden, the artist’s widow, selects one of his murals, Before Dawn and the project proceeds as planned. Before Dawn
June 18, 1989 - After almost two years of renovations, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County reopens its doors to new and expanded building. The state-of-the-art facility features expanded services and a larger staff.. As part of the city’s public art programs, a mosaic based on a collage of the late Romare Bearden, hangs in the new library. In the years to come, the library will receive numerous awards, including Library of the Year in 1996. Before DawnNew Main Library
March 31, 1988 - The Charlotte Observer wins journalism's highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize. Reporters have written over 600 stories about Reverend Jim Bakker and the scandal surrounding his ministry, PTL. The newspaper's investigation has led to Bakker's conviction for cheating people who donated money, called fraud. This is the newspaper's second Pulitzer Prize. The first was in 1981, for stories about a disease called Brown Lung.
The Seventh Mecklenburg County Courthouse was dedicated on April 10, 1989. . . . An official public art project was located adjacent to the Courthouse Building. It featured the depiction of a courtroom scene using trees, shrubs, a fountain, and boulders to represent the judge, jury, defendant, attorneys, and spectators. from Courthouses of Mecklenburg County, 1766-2007 (Mecklenburg County, 2007)
August 1988 - A crowd of 20,000 has to celebrate the opening of Charlotte's new $52 million coliseum on Tyvola Road. The fans are welcomed by Rev. Billy Graham, who also spoke nearly 33 years ago at the dedication of Charlotte's first coliseum on Independence Boulevard. Coliseum OpeningBilly Graham
During the next 10 years, Mecklenburg County's employment rate will grow by more than 100,000 jobs. Civic pride and a strong local economy help attract businesses and new residents to the area.
November 4, 1988 - The Bugs are alive at the Hive! In their first game, 23,338 fans swarm into the new coliseum as the new NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, play the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though the Hornets lose the game 133-93, loyal fans will break attendance records again and again. Hornets' Debut
September 22, 1989 - Charlotte is caught unaware when Hurricane Hugo turns inland from the South Carolina coast and slams into the Queen City during the night. High winds uproot huge trees, tear the roofs off homes and knock down power lines across the region. It will take weeks to restore power and safety to some parts of town.
The old First Baptist Church on Tryon Street is re-born as the Spirit Square Center for the Performing Arts. Although the first phase of renovations was begun in 1976, recent improvements have given the facility more classroom space, plus display halls, galleries and theaters.