Durham Cathedral’s nave features striking arcading that bears striking similarities to illuminated English gospel books and Islamic architecture – yet their source remains controversial.
Durham’s music scene is vibrant and eclectic. Enjoy comforting Carolina barbecue for lunch before sharing an Ethiopian doro wat and awaze tibs platter for dinner.
History
Durham’s past is rich with diversity, resilience, and innovation – its heritage can be explored block-by-block, building by building, and story by story using Preservation Durham’s online community resource The Durham Stories Project. Residents, visitors, alumni can share experiences, memories, or recollections about people or places which have helped define what Durham has become today through this online repository.
Durham Museum of History & Culture (MoDH) serves as an exemplary symbol of how this city continues to build on its past in order to foster an exciting present and future. MoDH collaborates closely with schools such as Duke University and North Carolina Central University in providing students with meaningful learning opportunities like exhibit curation, internships and volunteerism that connect them to Durham’s historical community – giving them an opportunity to be a part of its storied past and contribute their own unique contributions to its vibrant legacy.
Scots and Irish immigrants first settled the Durham region during the 1700s. These pioneers toiled tirelessly, building mills, forging revolutionary movements, founding churches, fighting freedom wars in Carolinas as they established new lives here.
Tobacco was the driving force for economic development in Durham during the 1800s. Washington Duke donated money in 1890 to bring Trinity College to Durham; later his son James Buchanan Duke donated millions more in order to transform Trinity into modern Duke University. A bustling industrial city emerged, and Blacks became an increasingly prominent part of society; its “Black Wall Street” flourished on Parrish Street with many African-American businesses such as N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics & Farmers Bank (now M&F, established 1907).
Durham quickly rose to national prominence during the Civil Rights Movement with many of the first sit-ins protesting segregation taking place there, such as one at Royal Ice Cream Parlor in 1957. Because of these and other activism, Durham became nationally renowned as a leader for civil rights efforts. Today, its residents remain committed to social justice efforts; various activist groups and community leaders remain present among its population; Whitney (she/her) works closely with Durham For All staff to manage its well-being by way of strategy/campaign development/leadership development/visioning processes.
Arts & Culture
Durham’s creative community continues to build upon its historic culture with a vibrant tapestry of art and music. Galleries and arts non-profits open their doors every Third Friday; jazz can be heard echoing through downtown at Moogfest festival each April/June; while Durham hosts theater shows and concerts of all sorts throughout the year.
Arts and cultural activities play a pivotal role in maintaining our community’s health. Tourism benefits, economic development expands, education is improved and individuals find outlets for self-expression through artistic pursuits.
Durham relies heavily on arts and cultural activities for its success, so it is imperative that our leaders support this sector. A new plan called the Durham Cultural Roadmap will outline how Durham’s arts and cultural ecosystem will evolve over the next ten years.
Durham’s arts and cultural scene is driven by its residents. Each year, events like the Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival and African American Heritage Film Festival showcase Durham’s vast cultural diversity while festivals like Festival for the Eno and CenterFest create a fascinating contrast between past and present, where modern art forms come into play against its historic architecture.
Durham offers an abundance of visual art forms, spanning contemporary and traditional painting, sculpture, ceramics, glasswork and photography. The Museum of Durham hosts exhibitions from national and international artists alike; one notable exhibition includes works by Spanish master Diego Velazquez that was displayed for the first time ever in America at his Museum exhibits. Durham Cathedral stands out amongst all this artistic activity with Romanesque masterpieces including St Cuthbert and Venerable Bede both being laid to rest there, as well as exhibits like Stranger Times which looks at their world during COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
The fifteen member Durham Cultural Advisory Board (DCAB), along with its Public Art Committee, advises both City and County governments on cultural development by honoring Durham’s heritage while cultivating its vibrant local culture. DCAB also works to recruit and retain artists, art organizations, facilities and facilities as well as offering education workshops/classes in dance drama crafts music eurythmics photography etc. For more information visit their website.
Food & Drink
Durham’s food scene shines with farm-to-table cuisine that transcends trendy fads, providing authentic flavors that define this city’s character. Offering everything from comforting Carolina barbecue and soul food classics to new takes on global dishes, Durham restaurants have something deliciously delectable for every palette.
Due to Duke University and the Medical Center, Durham boasts an international population that contributes to an eclectic food scene that showcases its heritage. You could dine your way around the world without leaving town: Indian, Cambodian, Ecuadorian, Zimbabwean and Cuban restaurants stand alongside longstanding local institutions as you sample its bounty.
Durham distilleries are an integral part of Durham’s vibrant cocktail culture, offering creative signature cocktails and tasty bites to complement them. One such bar and lounge, The Corpse Reviver Bar and Lounge at Durham Distillery (aptly named for both classic gin cocktails as well as its former coffin shop location beneath Washington Street), makes the Corpse Reviver an ideal place for unwinding before dinner or heading across to DPAC – with inventive drinks like The Old Bull featuring Conniption Gin from Durham Distillery mixed with mezcal and pineapple; shareable snacks such as pork rinds or fried chicken skins are offered here as well.
Food options in Durham also feature a diverse range of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly fare, with family-run restaurant Bleu Olive providing Mediterranean fare with quality ingredients, such as its signature spanikopita (baked pita filled with lamb kefte and vegetable spread), grilled octopus and zucchini as well as salads, pastas entrees and sides. Recently they expanded to their second location downtown Durham so you can enjoy elevated bites during the day and craft cocktails later at night!
Explore Durham’s incredible culinary scene first-hand on one of our guided walking food tours! These intimate experiences feature tastings at five to six restaurants and bars, with wine or beer samples along the way. With everything from traditional Carolina barbecue joints to Ethiopian restaurants on our Durham Downtown Evening Tasting & Drinks Tour itinerary, this intimate tour provides you with the best of Durham dining scene!
Shopping & Nightlife
Durham offers something for every nightlife and shopping enthusiast – from bustling cocktail bars with lively ambience, to live music venues housing both big gigs and local bands – Durham offers it all. Whatever you are in the mood for – be it cocktails with friends, live music shows or local bands playing live – Durham has it all – there is sure to be something here that fits!
Downtown Durham provides plenty of shopping and bars to keep you occupied all day and night, from Main Street with its array of unique local shops like Dolly’s to Letter’s Bookshop and Exotique to the new Downtown Mall with even more fashion brands and restaurants.
If you’re in search of an exciting bar, The Blue Note provides the perfect Nashville honky-tonk atmosphere and features both live music from their house band Duke Street Dogs as well as larger ticketed events by touring musicians. Also worth trying is Missy Lane’s social hub or Boxcar for games such as pinball, arcade consoles and full bar service with pizza menu available on demand.
There are also some excellent wine bars in Durham. The Wine Feed, located in Downtown Durham, features an expansive list of wines from all around the globe and provides tasting events and monthly wine club subscriptions to help expand your palate. Hunky Dory (named after one of David Bowie’s songs) boasts an equally impressive beer selection with its hop-heavy draft menu; making for a memorable place for an enjoyable night spent sipping beer while listening to music with friends.
Wiff Waff is one of Durham’s more beloved bars, nestled beneath West End’s historic market square is this lively ping pong bar and nightclub boasting seven ping pong tables for student use and two PS10 cocktail service bars for cocktails – making this an ideal student hangout! Ping pong games run late into the night (except on Friday nights when student hen dos are held! ).
Enjoy drinks with a beautiful view at Durham Hotel’s SkyBar, situated atop American Tobacco Campus with its rooftop terrace and reasonable drinks prices. There is plenty to take in while sipping away your time at this elegant rooftop spot!