The Greenbrier Hotel welcomed 350 members to the "My Symphony" convention, featuring Symphony paperweights. Instead of The Special train, Alpha Chi Omega offered Special train cars on several trains, themed to Alpha Chi Omega. Interestingly, there were no preset menus; you could order what you wanted for each meal.
The undeclared war in Vietnam begins in 1955 and will last for 19 years.
Gamma Sigma chapter is established at the University of Rhode Island.
Gamma Tau chapter is established at Oklahoma City University.
Gamma Upsilon chapter is established at the University of Houston.
Gamma Phi chapter is established at Lamar University.
Rosita Hopps Nordwall (Epsilon, University of Southern California) assumes the chairmanship of the National Panhellenic Conference.
Burnette Grimes Jones (Omega, Washington State University) serves as National President from 1957-60.
Gamma Chi chapter is established at Stetson University.
The Special train returned to take 740 attendees to the "Fiesta del Pacifico" convention. All members received a cloisonne tray featuring the lyre bird, designed by Barbara Dodd (Gamma Theta, University of Maryland). On excursion day, attendees went to Disneyland, which had just opened two years before. The Memorial Bell Tower was approved at the cost of $36,000 ($336,381 today).
Sputnik, a Soviet satellite, is launched, beginning the Space Age.
By the late 1950s, there are 4,000 drive-in movie theaters across the United States.
Gamma Psi chapter is established at Wichita State University.
Gamma Omega chapter is established at the University of Miami.
Delta Epsilon chapter is established at Southeast Missouri State University.
Delta Zeta chapter is established at Central Michigan University.
Delta Eta chapter is established at Queens College.
Delta Theta chapter is established at the University of Maine.
Delta Iota chapter is established at Emory University.
Delta Kappa chapter is established at Sam Houston State University.