Durham is home to many attractions that span its rich and storied past, from Stagville and Bennett Place’s preserved antebellum architecture to its industrial roots in tobacco production and textile mills, making for an exciting city life full of musical diversity ranging from jazz and hip-hop, blues to soul, Americana and folk performances.
Year 3 will focus on exploring a special subject and writing your dissertation on an area of historical interest to you.
History
Durham has an extensive and vibrant history dating back centuries. From its days as the ancient settlement Coginchaug (a Native American word meaning “long swamp”) to today’s bustling college town, Durham has long been seen as a center for community and innovation.
Cuthbert traveled to Durham during the Saxon era with the intent of spreading Christianity. On his travels he met a milkmaid who guided him to Dun Holm; she told them there was treasure buried here and they took this as a sign from God to build first a wooden cathedral and later stone cathedral at this site.
Durham Cathedral served as an integral political, social and religious hub. The cathedral served as home for Bishop of Durham who held broad secular power in exchange for allegiance to King of England – an arrangement which greatly contributed to Durham becoming a buffer state between England and Scotland.
When the Scottish army attempted to invade Durham in 1006, their attempts were repulsed and many Scots were killed; their bodies were displayed around Durham as a warning to others.
Durham was famous in the 1700s for its lead mining. Durham’s hills were rich with this vital mineral and the mining process involved melting it to create sheet metal sheets – something which led to factories being built in response to it and led to an economic expansion in Durham itself.
Atwater used her forceful leadership of community organizing to bring Black and white leaders together during the Civil Rights Movement to reduce rising tension over school integration. Although Atwater sometimes clashed with C. P. Ellis’ Ku Klux Klan chapter in Durham, most residents supported her cause eventually.
Jerry Gershenhorn, professor of history at North Carolina Central University and former board member at MoDH, notes how it has kept pace with contemporary society. He points to how many young visitors from Duke and NCCU visit, helping curate exhibits or offering their expertise with research projects. Furthermore, MoDH’s involvement in Hayti district revitalization shows it adapting to meet new challenges within Raleigh.
Arts & Music
No matter the event – be it Broadway at Durham Performing Arts Center, dancing the night away at an intimate venue or enjoying international exhibits at museums – Durham offers something for everyone in terms of arts and culture experiences. There’s something here for every taste from Broadway musicals at DPAC to intimate performances with a global perspective that reflect Durham’s rich cultural legacy.
Durham’s Black art scene is an amalgamation of creativity and social consciousness. Influential artists like Beverly McIver and Ernie Barnes tell tales of family, identity, heritage through emotive paintings that appear all across Durham on street corners, building walls and sidewalks; lighting up its streets like never before.
Blackspace is an integral community organization that empowers young people to express themselves creatively and act as agents of change. Through programs like the “Art & Soul” workshop that offers free lessons rooted in Afrofuturism and poetry, this non-profit equips youth to lead with strong voices while making positive impacts in their community.
Durham is home to many talented Black actors and playwrights in theater, such as Nadia Bodie Smith and Lakeisha Coffey as well as Xavier Cason, Chauntee’ Schuler Irving, Kenneth Hinton and many others. Blackspace fosters future artists through arts-based community programs showcasing local youth talent on stages from Durham to New York.
Durham’s music scene ranges from chamber music performances to old school jam sessions and features talented artists, composers, and musicians from every genre–from acoustic chamber music sessions to old school jam sessions–and includes GRAMMY winner Rhiannon Giddens–who will bring her Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion show to DPAC later this year.
The Durham Arts Council stands as a cornerstone of city life, providing classes for every age and interest. Eve Sperling and her sister Liddy began their love of art through summer camps and piano lessons at this nonprofit; today it serves over 27,000 lesson students and offers hundreds of instruments as well as teaching over 20,000 children to sing, dance and create. At its core is its focus on community involvement through art – which makes this such a wonderful place!
Food & Drink
With new residents flocking to Durham for jobs and receiving national publicity in recent years, it comes as no surprise that restaurants are upping their game. Durham’s food scene has garnered accolades in publications like Bon Appetit and Southern Living Magazine; newcomers to Durham can find food security with longstanding local institutions like Backyard BBQ Joint where barbecue enthusiasts can feast upon platters of pork, brisket and chicken alongside collard greens and delectable mac & cheese!
Durham offers an excellent selection of casual cafes and pubs. La Spaghettata on Silver Street is a favorite student hangout; tables can often be hard to come by during term time due to high popularity. Another great Italian choice is Coviello; Coviello also serves an extensive menu of Italian food while Namu on Main Street provides craft beer along with Korean-fusion food made famous by their popular Kimchi Fried Rice dish!
Durham offers plenty of choices for vegetarian and vegan eaters alike. Most neighborhoods will likely feature at least one veggie-friendly restaurant and some that focus on this cause, such as Lemon & Lime and Pure Vegan Cafe specializing in vegan cuisine; Yardhouse chain restaurant also serves meatless Chicago-style hot dogs if that tickles your fancy.
Alongside restaurants, there are also bars and breweries in the city worth exploring. Its craft-beer scene is strong with numerous breweries opening across the city with unique ethos and specializations. Downtown area particularly lively with plenty of bars and clubs available.
Visitors looking to experience Durham’s culinary offerings should join a food and drink tour. Such tours provide an ideal opportunity to gain insight into its rich history while sampling some of its most beloved dishes – they are especially good options for families as many tours offer child-friendly tours!
Events
Durham offers something for every interest imaginable – from Broadway plays and live music performances, indie films and art exhibitions to outdoor markets and trivia contests. Enjoy an evening with comedian Craig Ferguson at Carolina Theatre or join in holiday spirit with Lucky Strike Tower Lighting/CCB Plaza Tree Lighting; test your knowledge with an expert tour guide during one of their tours; there’s sure to be something fun going on all year long in Durham.
Durham prides itself on supporting local, independent businesses, as evidenced by its abundance of locally owned shops in downtown. Visit Durham Vintage Collective for secondhand plaid miniskirts, leather jackets, and Jean-Michel Basquiat lithographs; Chet Miller offers cookbooks, small press travel guides and game night jigsaw puzzles; EUtopia Design features Polish glassware and ceramics just a short stroll away.
North Carolina Central University hosts the Ultimate Homecoming Experience annually to welcome back alumni for a week of step shows, musical performances and drag show that culminates in a football game and parade. This family-friendly event also provides visitors with a bus tour and free lunches so they can get a new view of campus life.
Durham boasts an eclectic restaurant scene and also hosts several craft breweries and distilleries, where visitors can sample locally-crafted spirits at tasting rooms or visit bourbon distilleries to take tours. Mystic Farm & Distillery can be found six miles east of downtown and provides tastings of its small-production bourbons – they even provide free tastings!
Durham’s CenterFest Arts Festival showcases juried artists with artwork and crafts displayed throughout Durham, while food vendors serve delicious fare you won’t find downtown. There is even a brewery crawl during one of its evening sessions! And don’t forget all of the great live music performances you’ll be able to take in during either afternoon session! Plus you’ll get plenty of chances to try local restaurants’ delicious cuisine as well!
Durham Bulls Athletic Park hosts an annual beer festival each October, where regional and national beers from different parts of the United States come together. At this two-session event, hundreds of beers can be sampled as attendees sample delicious offerings from food vendors; plus, there’s even plenty of alcohol-related refreshments!