Museum of Durham History December 2015

Enjoy FREE hot cider and homemade cookies every day of December during the holiday season including after the caroling. Some cookies use vintage recipes; all are baked with love by volunteers.Cookie in hand, you can wander the current exhibits including Durham A-Z: H is for Hayti and Durham Beginnings | 1865-1885. It will also be the last chance to see Historic Russell School exhibit.

Durham A-Z: H is for Hayti
Dates: October 16, 2015-Spring 2016

The exhibit Durham A-Z: H is for Hayti focuses on the history of the Hayti neighborhood, including its vibrant businesses, schools, cultural activities, social institutions, and churches. The exhibit also discusses the loss of many of Hayti’s businesses and homes
in the late 1950s to urban renewal and the Durham freeway, as well as how current residents preserve and carry forward Hayti’s legacy.

Durham Beginnings 1865-1885
Dates: March 18, 2015-March 1, 2016

An exhibit featuring five dramatic but little-known personal stories evoking the spirit of Durham’s formative years.

Our Bull City: Historic Russell School, Durham’s Last Rosenwald Schoolhouse
Dates: June 8-December 31

The exhibit tells the story of the Rosenwald schools, with particular focus on Historic Russell School. Rosenwald Schools were created by Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and local communities to provide education for African-Americans in the rural South during the Jim Crow Era.

Explore Durham Through Time
Dates: Ongoing

Visitors can use a touchscreen to explore key moments in Durham’s past. A post-it note wall allows viewers to tell us what moments from Durham’s past are most important to them. They may see their feedback incorporated later with a photo and caption.

Look Beyond the Windows
Dates: Ongoing

Take in the Hub’s almost-360-degree view of downtown and consider the changes over time. To begin, we’ll focus on the Hill Building, Arts Council (formerly City Hall and Central High School), Liggett and Myers buildings, and NC Mutual tower. 

Story Room

Visitors can step into the Story Room to record a personal memory about Durham’s past. They can also explore memories others have shared or browse through old, local yearbooks. Stories recorded in the Story Room will be archived by the Durham County Library.The Story Room is a recording booth at the Durham History Hub where Durhamites can record their own memories and experiences of Durham. Stories recorded in the Story Room are archived by the Museum and by the Durham County Library.Anyone with a Durham story to share can visit the Story Room!

Your Durham story can be long or short (their shortest story to date is 2 min and the longest is 98 min.) You can share a Durham story that is very recent or very old. Both are valuable to the community. The Museum of Durham History encourages family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones to interview one another. We have seen that both the interviewer and the interviewee find the experience to be deeply rewarding.  Stories recorded in the Story Room are saved by the Museum of Durham History and archived at the Durham County Library.

Together, we are building a collection of stories that will help us gain a more personal understanding of the past. Speaking of stories, we (Monica and Daniel) invite you to our local Durham bed and breakfast called Morehead Manor.  Black Enterprise magazine named us the #1 black-owned bed and breakfast in America.

We welcome everyone to experience a luxurious stay and a gourmet breakfast each morning.  Our guests, and all those who visit Durham, will make meaningful memories and have wonderful stories to share with loved ones.