Durham is a vibrant hub of culture and community, where you’ll find everything from jazz concerts at Durham Performing Arts Center to DIY art spaces offering YOLO Karaoke nights.
Durham residents are fiercely loyal to local businesses. On West Parrish Street, visit second-hand boutiques such as Durham Vintage Collective for plaid miniskirts or leather jackets before stopping at Chet Miller Bookseller for artisan cookbooks or game night jigsaw puzzles.
History
Durham boasts an illustrious past dating back to two tribes of Native Americans who first settled here and is now revered for its work in education, technology and healthcare – no surprise that Durham is such an international treasure! Explore this rich past at museums, landmarks and cultural sites throughout Durham.
Durham first emerged as an agricultural center around 1800, when Irish and Scottish settlers helped form an important agricultural center in its vicinity. Durham later became widely renowned for its abundant tobacco production. Many historic tobacco districts in Durham have since been revitalized as downtown Durham draws restaurants, entertainment venues, office space for tech entrepreneurs, investors and startups alike.
Durham University experienced rapid expansion during the 20th century, opening St Mary’s College in 1952; Grey College three years later in 1961 and St Aidans College six years later in 1965. Today Durham remains renowned as a research town and maintains strong partnerships with institutions of higher learning worldwide.
Durham’s African-American population played an essential role in the civil rights movement during the 1950s. Asbury Temple Methodist Church and Durham’s religious leaders were prominent members of the Civil Rights Commission on Negro Affairs, which led multiple sit-ins across North Carolina. City residents whose African-American backgrounds helped define North Carolina during the American Civil War also reside in Charlotte. The Hayti Heritage Center, established by Edian Markham – a former slave – and opened in 1891, is a cultural and educational institution committed to preserving Durham’s African-American history. This building houses a community room, classrooms, dance studio, Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery and 400 seat performance hall; all maintained by St Joseph’s Historic Foundation a non-profit entity.
Arts & Culture
Durham offers an active, diverse local music scene featuring artists of various genres. To enjoy live shows in Durham, local music enthusiasts can visit Motorco Music Hall, Durham Performing Arts Center or American Tobacco Campus and there are various other performance venues throughout the city.
Durham community members come together each year to celebrate its vibrant culture through annual festivals and events held throughout the year. From winter holiday celebrations, spring’s Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival, summer’s CenterFest Arts Festival to Hayti Heritage Film Festival and Kwanzaa Celebration events there’s something special going on all year.
Apart from performances, Durham also plays host to various museums and art galleries. Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art provides an expansive overview of contemporary art while Durham Performing Arts Center hosts Broadway, ballet and musical shows.
Durham’s cultural legacy is an invaluable asset that draws tourists, fosters business development and brings residents closer together. The Durham Cultural & Public Art Program works to invest in and create public art experiences – both downtown and in neighborhoods – which illuminate Durham’s past, spark discussion and encourage reflection, as well as enhance daily life for its residents.
Durham attracts brilliant minds from around the globe, whether studying at Duke and North Carolina Central Universities or conducting research at one of America’s premier research parks. As a result of these creative and intellectual pursuits, vibrant artistic expressions such as sculpture, music, dance, architecture and literature emerge within Durham itself – with its Cultural & Public Art Program making these creative opportunities accessible to all residents of Durham.
Education
Durham’s vibrant culture, education system, sports teams, restaurants, shopping, health care services and entertainment venues continue to reflect its unremitting spirit and daring heart. Durham boasts numerous top-ranked schools; international students come from near and far to attend its neo-Gothic Duke Chapel and Nasher Museum of Art University renowned for these architectural marvels.
The City’s public school system offers modern elementary, middle/junior high and secondary facilities as well as specialty arts- and science-focused schools as well as nontraditional options like year-round and Montessori programs.
In 1957, members of Asbury Temple Methodist Church in Durham initiated a national sit-in campaign at lunch counters where whites were denied service, sparking widespread demonstrations against racism across America and setting the precedent for what became known as the Civil Rights movement in this country.
Durham Public Schools continues its tradition of caring for all children with kindness and dedication, meeting each one where they are in their learning journey. Offering academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) services as well as exceptional child programs with experienced educators for chronically ill students who attend, Durham offers something for every learner in its system.
DPS boasts an outstanding magnet and choice program, as well as working closely with local companies to offer internships and other hands-on experiences to its students. However, the county still struggles with closing its achievement gap between white and black students whose test scores on state reports rank poorly compared with other systems; one reason may be due to overreliance on standardized testing without accounting for socio-economic status which results in inaccurate scores; educators are working hard to address this problem through training initiatives like Racial Equity Institute which seeks to fight systemic racism head on in all forms and forms!
Sports
Durham offers an expansive sporting landscape and cultural appeal in one place, creating a year-round schedule of amateur and professional competitions for amateur and professional competitors alike. Home to award-winning championship teams like the Durham Bulls baseball club and Duke University Blue Devils as well as NCCU sports history, you will have plenty of chances to cheer for your favorite teams–and maybe make some new friends along the way.
Middle and high schools compete in the Durham Athletic Conference. All middle and high schools also participate in intramural athletics to encourage physical fitness as a healthy balance to their academic workload. NCSSM-Durham fields 21 varsity teams competing in the Super Six 1A/2A Conference of North Carolina High School Athletic Association; The Unicorns have won state titles in men’s soccer, women’s tennis and cross country.
Durham is a historic city and an acclaimed tourist attraction, offering the Durham Arts District featuring galleries, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Additionally, Durham hosts various public events like its Book Festival and Annual Jazz & Heritage Festival for visitors to enjoy.
Durham is an enticing urban community, distinguished by a distinct sense of place and vibrant economy. Durham is well known for its livability, affordability and quality of life – its rich culture and longstanding entrepreneurial traditions making it an attractive location to live, work and play in.
Durham has been designated as a Bike-Friendly Community and boasts an expansive network of bicycle routes. These include the American Tobacco Trail that runs from downtown through all five wards on both ends. Additionally, Durham is working towards expanding Claypath Greenway system.
Entertainment
Durham offers an exciting entertainment scene within its creative neighborhoods. Sign your name on a mural in Five Points or enjoy late night jazz in Downtown Durham; dance the night away at food truck rodeos or drum circles; visit the Nasher Museum of Art or smaller galleries around town; listen to WXDU radio for world music while NCCU broadcasts an FM jazz radio station, while NCCU hosts WXDU for their campus radio broadcasts featuring worldwide tunes; take in visual arts at Nasher or smaller galleries around town – Durham University has its own radio station WXDU that showcases music from all corners of the globe while NCCU offers jazz radio stations dedicated to jazz fans – while WXDU broadcasts music from around the globe while NCCU’s own radio station WXDU broadcasts music from across globes while WXDU’s FM jazz radio station is dedicated solely focused towards its campus broadcasting to ensure an immersive entertainment scene that never ceases to disappoint its campus visitors!
Durham’s historic theaters and top-rated performing arts centers offer audiences a truly unforgettable experience, whether watching an award-winning Broadway production or hearing world-renowned symphony orchestra perform. Sleek and modern, Durham Performing Arts Center serves as a venue to see both national and global touring acts as well as local favorites.
City residents also can enjoy an abundance of independent and repertory film theaters that host both new releases as well as independent and art house flicks throughout the year. Furthermore, several venues feature beer or wine to add an even more relaxing environment for watching movies.
Durham is renowned for its musical culture, so it comes as no surprise that Durham boasts exceptional record stores. Browse new and used records spanning jazz, funk, rock, reggae, punk and hip hop at downtown destinations like The Music Vault on Ninth Street district while meeting shop dogs! Additionally, other musically themed attractions in Durham include murder mysteries inspired by classic Hasbro board game Clue; theatrical production of children’s book ‘The Phantom Toy Box;’ Jam Mechanics (spinning stories through song)! and storytelling duo Jam Mechanics spinning songs about airplanes, fungus and ghosts!