Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

Preservation Durham works to protect Durham’s unique sense of place by sharing our passion and knowledge. We offer education and advocacy to the public, stakeholders and public officials. We encourage everyone to preserve the places they love and show them how. We collaborate to protect Durham for future generations.
Preservation Durham is made up of folks who believe that place is important and that our past helps to shape our future. We want Durham to embrace growth and change but also to protect its sense of place – its unique identity in the Triangle – and to remain open and available to all in our community. Everyone’s story has a place.
Durham began in 1854, when Dr. Bartlett Durham sold four acres of land to the North Carolina Railroad Company to build a new station between Hillsborough and Raleigh. A small village soon sprang up around the depot. In 1865, huge armies of Union and Confederate forces gathered around Durham’s Station as General Joseph E. Johnston negotiated his surrender to General William T. Sherman at Bennett Place , the largest troop surrender at the end of the Civil War.
Duke’s mansion, Fairview, was built across the street from W Duke Sons & Co Tobacco Factory
R. F. Morris had opened the first tobacco factory in 1854, but the industry came into its own after the Civil War as demand for smoking tobacco spread nation-wide with returning veterans.

Preservation Durham 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony And Preservation Party

Delancey Tavern is one of Preservation Durham's 2026 Award Winners

Halloween Cemetery Tour

Harkrader Home Tour

Queer History of Durham Tour: Downtown Edition

Preservation Durham Architecture Tour

Volunteer with Preservation Durham

Property Donations and Easements

Give

Federal Threats to National Historic Preservation Act Section 106

Newsletter, October 2026

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Caitlin Avinger

Julia Lasure

Julia Meyer

Mike Tan

Michelle Dy

Tristan Spencer

Lee Pace

Today we're featuring the Booker T. Spicely Committee, a group of citizens dedicated to educating the public about the heroism and activism of Pfc. Booker T. Spicely, an African American WWII veteran who was killed for protesting Jim Crow seating on a Durham city bus in 1944. The committee successfully applied to the NC Division of Natural and Cultural Resources for a historic marker honoring Pfc. Spicely’s sacrifice. The marker commemorating Pfc. Spicely was erected on 12/1/23, at Club Blvd and Broad St, and is the first historic marker in NC to refer to Jim Crow. Learn more about their exhibit “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero” on Tuesday, 11/17 at the Rickhouse from 5:30pm-7:30pm with drinks, appetizers, and silent auction. Free, with a recommended donation of $50/group. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards

Delancey Tavern is one of Preservation Durham's 2026 Award Winners! 408 West Geer Street was built in 1948 for Albert Weeks, who started Weeks Motor Company, selling Lincolns and Mercurys. Now Delancey Tavern is a local favorite, serving delicious food and beverages in the beautifully restored space. Check out building photos from 1953-2008 at: https://www.opendurham.org/buildings/weeks-motor-company-hutchins-auto-supply Interior Photo Credit: @eatingdrewjackson with @newsobserver Celebrate all nine award winners on Tuesday, 11/17 at the Rickhouse from 5:30pm-7:30pm with drinks, appetizers, and silent auction. Free, with a recommended donation of $50/group. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards

Get ready for some sweet treats at the 2026 Preservation Durham Awards & Preservation Party in less than two weeks! @bigspoonroasters Nut Butter Trio and @griffstoffee Pecan & Coffee Toffee Tower will be available at the silent auction, along with gift cards from @nothingbundtcakes, @eathawkers, @seraphinedurham, @neomondemediterranean, @clochecoffee, @loafdurham, @ninthstreetbakery, @velvethippodurham, @eastcutsandwich, @boricuasoulnc, and more! Celebrate the award winners on Tuesday, 11/17 at the Rickhouse from 5:30pm-7:30pm with drinks, appetizers, and silent auction. Free, with a recommended donation of $50/group. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards

Today we're highlighting Kelsey Graywill for @hyperlocaldispatch Hyperlocal Dispatch is "a collective of artists, storytellers, and curious neighbors." Check out the interactive map Kelsey created to go with the Pride & Preservation zine commissioned in collaboration with @dukehumanrightscenter https://queer.hyperlocaldurham.com/ And grab your copy of the zine from the @durhamfoodhall Come party with the Durham community on Tuesday, 11/17 at the Rickhouse from 5:30pm-7:30pm with drinks and appetizers. Free, with a recommended donation of $50/group. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards

Happy Friday! Today we're featuring Carol Anderson for Vaguely Reminiscent, one of Preservation Durham's 2026 Award Winners. For over 40 years, Vaguely Reminiscent drew folks to Ninth Street and left a legacy of wonderful memories for the community. What were some of YOUR memorable finds from Vaguely Reminiscent? Celebrate all nine of our winners on Tuesday, 11/17 at the Rickhouse from 5:30-7:30pm with drinks and appetizers. Free, with a recommended donation of $50/group. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards View article and farewell video by Bridget Mills and Torrey Lin Weiner from 9th Street Journal at: https://9thstreetjournal.org/2026/04/23/as-a-9th-street-landmark-closes-vaguelys-owner-reminisces/

Congratulations to the 2026 Preservation Durham award winners! Join us on Tuesday 11/17/26 to celebrate our winners. This is a free event open to the public, with appetizers and drinks. Recommended donation of $50/group of attendees. Register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/awards The silent auction will feature Duke basketball tickets, an overnight stay at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, and gift cards to Durham favorites, including Liberty & Plenty Distillery, Bella Trio Salon, Threehouse Studios, and Big Spoon Roasters.

Come celebrate our community on Tuesday, 11/17 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at The Rickhouse. Check out the award winners and register at: www.preservationdurham.org/2026awards The silent auction will feature gift cards from local favorites, including The Boulder Garden, Rose & Lee Collective, Craven Allen Gallery, Ninth Street Dance, Sofia’s Pizza, Frog Hollow Outdoors, Midtown Yoga, and Morehead Planetarium & Science Center.

What a fantastic Harkrader House tour on Saturday 10/10! Check out one of the homes featured on the tour:

Register for the Harkrader House Tour TOMORROW 10/10: https://www.ncmodernist.org/HarkraderTour.htm "Using six inch wide boards (2x6) in exterior wall framing instead of four inch wide boards (2x4) which are traditionally used, increases the depth of a building’s exterior walls which creates space for 50% more insulation." Explore the practical principles behind the Harkrader Method — from orientation and natural light to thermal mass, insulation and awning placement — showing how timeless design decisions create healthier, more comfortable and more efficient buildings at: https://www.harkraderhouse.com/learn

Learn more about how "Smarter framing creates more space for insulation, using less material while improving comfort, energy efficiency and lowering long term costs." at: https://www.harkraderhouse.com/ This Saturday 10/10 from 9am-3pm, view the inside of 6 Harkrader houses: https://www.ncmodernist.org/HarkraderTour.htm See less

"In the winter, loss of sunlight can lead to lower mood. Residents of Harkrader method buildings benefit from living in a space that naturally brings in winter sunlight and fosters a year-round connection to nature, which support mental health." Dive into the design principles and drawings at: https://www.harkraderhouse.com/ This Saturday 10/10, tour the inside of six passive solar houses: https://www.ncmodernist.org/HarkraderTour.htm

This Saturday is looking great for the Harkrader Home Tour! Day-of tickets will be available for $15/person at Orchard Park Pavilion, 1000 South Duke Street, Durham NC. For free tickets, volunteer to be a docent for half the tour. Sign up to volunteer at: https://forms.gle/vTK1RtJzodFGBERJ9 Check out which homes will be on the tour at: https://www.ncmodernist.org/HarkraderTour.htm

The Harkrader Home Tour is this Saturday, October 10th, and to celebrate, we are posting clips every day to share more about these homes! This video gives insight into the basic elements of a Harkrader House and how they ensure the homes are so energy-efficient. Learn directly from the architect himself, Richard Harkrader. The home highlighted in this video will be available to view on the tour! Online ticket sales are now closed, but you can buy tickets day-of at our Ticket HQ (1000 S. Duke Street, Durham, NC 27701).

Hello October! Join us for our Murder, Mayhem and Misfortune tour of Maplewood Cemetery on Halloween. Register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/halloween-maplewood-cemetery-tour Learn more at: https://www.opendurham.org/buildings/maplewood-cemetery

Thank you Brand Fortner for capturing photos from the Hymns for Salted Bones: A Re-Membering of Hayti Walking Tour on September 26th. Tours are 2:00pm-3:30pm on the following Saturdays: 10/3, 10/17, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21 Register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/haytiwalkingtour

Preservation Durham and Hayti Promise CDC are partnering with Whistle Stop Tours to host a theatrical tour of six homes along the historic Fayetteville Street Corridor, funded through the ARPA grant as part of the Fayetteville Street Corridor Project. Tours are from 2:00pm-3:30pm on the following Saturdays: 10/3, 10/17, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21 Register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/haytiwalkingtour

The first of eight walking tours along the historic Fayetteville Street Corridor starts this Saturday 2pm-3:30pm. Register for any of the eight different dates (all from 2pm-3:30pm: September 19th September 26th October 3rd October 17th November 7th November 14th November 21st at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/haytiwalkingtour Tour Parking: W.D. Hill Recreation Center, or along Merrick and Simmons streets.

Preservation Durham, the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, and the Museum of Durham History will host the Queer History of Durham Tour: Downtown Edition. Join our organizations during Durham's Pride Week, as we share some of the many sites associated with the history of the LGBTQ+ community. This is an approximately one mile walking tour in Durham's downtown social district. Free with optional donation. Please register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/queer-history-of-durham-tour--downtown-edition

Durham architect and builder Richard Harkrader and his wife Lonna built and leased homes and apartments near downtown Durham from 1994-2007. Each home is custom built to fit into its landscape, using passive solar design principles and inviting a connection with nature. Last year, Harkrader came out of retirement to design one last home for his daughter, Carson (photos above). This home, along with original buildings including the Harkrader's longtime home on Shepherd St, will be open for a special one-day tour on October 10th. Come out to experience this unique local architecture and learn about the design principles that allow Harkrader homes to live in harmony with the environment. Tickets are $10, link in bio or at https://www.ncmodernist.org/harkradertour.htm For free tickets, volunteer to be a docent for half the tour using the link in our bio!

We are excited to announce our nine Preservation Durham 2026 award winners! We continue to be blown away by the incredible nominations we receive each year, indicative of the amazing historic preservation and education work happening here in Durham. Join us on November 17th, 2026, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Rickhouse for this free event. There will be appetizers, drinks, and fun all around. Registration is required, with a suggested donation of $50/group of attendees. We can't wait to celebrate these amazing award winners in November and look forward to seeing the community come out to celebrate them and preservation in Durham. You can register now for this event on in the link in our bio or at www.preservationdurham.org/2026 awards

We are a little less than two months away from the Harkrader Home Tour on October 10th! Preservation Durham and NC Modernist are honored to showcase numerous solar passive homes designed, built, and sold/rented by Richard and Lonna Harkrader. These homes exemplify how conscious design choices can create energy-efficient and sustainable homes. Tickets are only $10, and you can buy them now at www.https://www.ncmodernist.org/HarkraderTour Interested in supporting Preservation Durham and NC Modernist by volunteering to be a tour docent? Visit https://www.preservationdurham.org/harkrader-home-tour or the link in our bio to sign up and receive a free ticket for the tour while you're not on your shift!

Preservation Durham and Hayti Promise CDC are excited to work with Whistle Stop Tours to present Hymns for Salted Bones: A Re-membering of Hayti Walking Tour. Prepare for an immersive storytelling experience centering community testimonies brought to life through performance art. A funeral and a revival, a ritual and a living procession, the tour gathers witnesses to honor Black spaces as sites of care, achievement, displacement, and resilience. Together we will preserve dignity, confront loss, embrace belonging, and invite collective responsibility. There will be eight tours throughout September-November. All eight tours will be available to the public for FREE, funded through the ARPA grant as part of the Fayetteville Street Corridor Project. The dates are as follows: September 12th September 19th September 26th October 3rd October 17th November 7th November 14th November 21st All tours are from 2-3:30 pm on these dates. You can register now at www.preservationdurham.org/haytiwalkingtour or through the link in our bio!

Recently, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) drafted new language for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Their proposed language creates major setbacks for the prevention of demolition of historic structures and cultural heritage throughout the United States. Section 106 is a critical part of the National Historic Preservation Act, ensuring that agencies are required to work with local communities to find a solution to development and other actions that isn't at the expense of local historic structures and cultural heritage. With the new proposed language, what is considered historic is redefined, agency consultation with communities will be optional, and agencies will not be required to implement any community feedback. This is incredibly dangerous and undoes 60 years of precedent in the protection of historic preservation in the United States. It impacts triable, state, and local preservation entities and our ability to work with agencies to ensure our historic resources are protected. The National Trust for Historic Places, in partnership with numerous other National Preservation entities, has created resources and calls to action that we can all take part in to protest the proposed language. To learn more about this proposed language and what you can do to help, visit www.preservationdurham.org/news or through the link in our bio.

Only one more week until our 2026 Preservation Durham nominations close! Our annual awards are an opportunity to celebrate and honor people, projects, and organizations that epitomize great preservation and historic education practices in the Durham community. If you are interested in submitting a nomination, you can visit the link in our bio or visit www.preservationdurham.org/awards Winners will be announced in mid-to-late August, and the awards ceremony will be in November. We look forward to celebrating with you all then!

NC Modernist and Preservation Durham are thrilled to offer a home tour on October 10, 2026, featuring six homes, all incorporating passive solar design with south-facing windows, thermal mass brick floors, energy efficient insulation, and solar hot water systems. https://www.ncmodernist.org/harkradertour.htm

Preservation Durham 2026 award nominations are open! Do you know of a person, project, or organization that exemplifies great preservation and/or historic education work in Durham? Nominate them for a Preservation Durham award! Past award winners include historians, rehabilitation projects, adaptive reuse projects, community stewards, and more. Durham is a special community with so many individuals and organizations doing great preservation and historic education work, and we want to highlight them! If you have any questions about the nomination process, email jlasure@preservationdurham.org. To submit a nomination, visit our website www.preservationdurham.org/awards or using the link in our bio. Nominations close at midnight on July 31st!

Join us on Tuesday, June 9th from 5:30-7pm for a stroll through downtown on our architecture walking tour. You'll hear from host Robert Sotolongo, retired president of DTW Architects, who will share his experiences and firsthand knowledge from his firm's work in the revitalization of downtown Durham. Some notable stops on the tour are the Mechanics & Farmers Bank, the Kress Building, the Temple Building, Five Points, and the Durham Arts Guild. Register at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/preservation-durham-downtown-architecture-tour

We are so excited to kick off summer with a Downtown Durham architecture walking tour! Learn more about many of Durham's most iconic landmarks in the Downtown Durham area. Robert Sotolongo, retired president of DTW Architects, will host the tour, sharing his experiences and firsthand knowledge from his firm's work in the revitalization of Downtown Durham, which includes the Arts Council Building and the Temple Building. This event is FREE for Preservation Durham members, and $15 for general public tickets! Purchase tickets now at www.preservationdurham.org or at the link in our bio!

Over 500 people joined us last weekend for the annual Home Tour in Hope Valley! We greatly appreciate the homeowners, volunteers, and sponsors who made this such a successful and enjoyable tour for folks. This amazing community effort was a wonderful way to come together and celebrate Hope Valley Country Club's centennial by touring inside eight homes built almost 100 years ago.

It's time for our final home tour sneak peek! This is the Cheek-Waller House, designed in 1928 by none other than George Watts Carr. T. Edgar and Adelaide Cheek were the first owners of the home, owning it from 1928-1934. The Cheeks are one of the oldest families in Durham, and Edgar's grandfather, J.W Cheek, was Durham's first mayor. The Cheeks sold the home to Marguerite and Zebulon Waller, the home's longest occupants, who lived there for nearly 50 years. The home is clad in skintled, or offset bricks, which was a popular style in the 1920s. Arches are a common theme in the house, prominent in the entrance and living room. The current residents had done intentional updates to the home, balancing the old with the new. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio. Special thank you to all who came out to our annual meeting/home tour lecture last night, and a special thank you to Lee Pace and Tad DeBerry for their great presentations on the history of the Hope Valley golf course and neighborhood!

It's finally home tour week, and we are excited! We have two more beautiful homes for sneak peeks, including the Lickle-Perlzweig house pictured here. This home was built in 1930 and was designed by George Watts Carr Sr. It is a symbol of good luck, as it has faced falling trees, leaks, and even a fire, yet has remained structurally sound. William Lickle and his wife, Margaret, first owned the home, likely only as a business venture as William was a salesman for the Hope Valley realty development company. They sold the home to Dr. William Perlzweig and Olga Marx, a biochemistry chair and translator/author, respectively. The current homeowner is the home's longest resident. On why he bought the house, “I just loved the eccentric, eclectic design aspects of the house. Plaster, hardwood floors, and real windows sealed the deal. Upon taking possession, it confirmed my vision of the unseen space.” To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio. Also, our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club is TOMORROW! Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture or at the link in our bio. We are almost at our docent goal, but still need a few more volunteers to work 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form here: https://forms.gle/JZD3q8ZQfJHuJhB18 or at the link in our bio.

Only a few home tour sneak peeks left until the big weekend! This is the Beckrath-Orgain home. Built in 1938 by, you guessed it, George Watts Carr, this Colonial-Revival home was commissioned by the Beckerath family. Herbert and Guelda von Beckerath lived in the home for 5 years. Herbert von Beckerath was a refugee who left Germany due to rising fears of retribution for his criticism of Hitler. The longest owners of the property were Anne and Dr. Edward Orgain. Carr's intentional design choices, including the arrangement of the home into three asymmetrical but balanced segments, give an impression of natural growth of the home over time. The home has indeed grown over time, with a significant addition from the Orgains in 1949-1950. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio. We are almost at our docent goal, but still need a few more volunteers to work 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form here: https://forms.gle/JZD3q8ZQfJHuJhB18 or at the link in our bio. Also, in less than a week is our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club! Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture or at the link in our bio.

Our next sneak peek is the John and Hazel Wily House! The John and Hazel Wily house was built in 1938 by George F. Hackney. The current homeowners still have the original plans for the home, and they will be on display during the tour! This home has some incredibly fun features, including a trompe l'oeil window, a fake window installed by the homeowners to give an illusion of a matching window in the back of the home. The home also still has a function call button, which indicates the original configuration of the home. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio. We are almost at our docent goal, but still need a few more volunteers to work 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form here: https://forms.gle/JZD3q8ZQfJHuJhB18 or at the link in our bio. Also, in less than a week is our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club! Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture or at the link in our bio.

Up next for our home tour sneak peeks is the Sue and Horace Snow Jr. House! Another George Watts Carr, Tudor-Revival design, this home was built in 1928. The central chimney featured in this photograph was built with stone from the old Hillsborough Quarry, the same source for many of the stones used to build the Gothic-designed buildings on Duke's West Campus. Six months after the Hope Valley Country Club opened, Sue and Horace Snow Jr. purchased the lot for the home. The Snow and Carr family connections continue, as Horace's mother, Anna Exum Snow Lane, commissioned Carr to design the Snow Building in Downtown Durham, where Viceroy is located today. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour We still need more volunteers to docent in 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form here: https://forms.gle/JZD3q8ZQfJHuJhB18 Also, a week from tomorrow is our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club! Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture

Our next sneak peek is the William and Katherine Brownell House! The Brownell House was originally built in 1928 as one of the early speculative homes in the neighborhood. The Brownell's were the first occupants of the home. Dr. William Brownell was an educational psychology professor at Duke University. Dr. Brownell's background in education made him a staunch advocate for public schools, speaking out at numerous PTA meetings throughout his life on the subject. Katherine was also an advocate for public schools, demonstrated by her support of the 1948 Durham school supplement levy to increase taxes to aid in funding public schools. This Tudor-Revival home's clipped-gabled roof is a dashing and unique feature on the home tour. Some interior retained features include the fireplaces, the radiators, and the bathroom hardware. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio! We still need more volunteers to docent in 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form in our bio. In celebration of this year's home tour, we are also hosting our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club. Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture or at the link in our bio!

Our next home tour sneak peek is the Troxell & Hansen-Pruss House! Charles and Emily Troxell were the first owners of this home, followed shortly by Oscar and Frances Hansen-Pruss, who went on to live in the home for almost 40 years. Like many of the early homes in Hope Valley, this is a Colonial-revival style, one of the most popular styles at the time it was built. George Watts Carr designed the home, as well as many of the earliest homes in Hope Valley. Some of the main features of the home are the rounded arched dormers, front entry with a molded surround, and 6/6 windows. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour or at the link in our bio! We still need more volunteers to docent in 2 or 4-hour shifts on either day of the tour. All volunteers get a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour themselves! If interested, you can check out the sign-up form in our bio. In celebration of this year's home tour, we are also hosting our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club. Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture or at the link in our bio!

Preservation Durham's home tour is less than a month away! Over the next few weeks leading up to the home tour, we are excited to share some sneak peeks of the homes that will be on the tour this year. First up is the White-Livengood House. This home was originally built in 1928, and is one of the two George Hackney designed homes on this tour. Newman and Marie White were the first occupants of this home. The couple were both academics, and started the legacy of Duke academic/professor ownership of the home. To see this and seven other of Hope Valley's earliest built homes, join us on our 2026 Home Tour on May 16th and 17th. Tickets can be purchased at the link in our bio or at www.preservationdurham.org/hometour In celebration of this year's home tour, we are also hosting our annual meeting and home tour lecture at the Hope Valley Country Club. Learn more about Preservation Durham and the history of Hope Valley at this FREE event on May 12th. Register for free at the link in our bio or at www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture

Preservation Durham is now accepting applications for its next Executive Director, with a planned leadership transition at the close of the fiscal year. The organization remains in a strong and steady place, with time for a thoughtful and intentional handoff. It’s an exciting moment for the organization, with strong momentum, dedicated staff, and board leadership, and meaningful work on the horizon. Learn more, share, and apply today at www.preservationdurham.org/employment

Preservation Durham is in search of volunteers to work as docents for this year's home tour! 2 and 4-hour shifts are available for either or both of the tour dates (May 16th-17th). We try to accommodate multiple volunteers who would like to work at the home together. Every volunteer gets a free home tour ticket to enjoy the tour outside of their shift! If you are interested, you can fill out the Google Form in the link in our bio!

We're excited to announce the winners of our @fullframefest voucher giveaway!!! Carrie B., Eric B., Beth B., Treat H., and Robin N. each won a voucher to an amazing documentary. There's still time to check out the film lineup for this weekend at https://www.fullframefest.org/festival_year/2026/

Today is the last day for EARLY BIRD tickets for the home tour on May 16-17 from 12pm-4pm each day. Explore eight homes built in the first 10 years of Hope Valley, and celebrate 100 years of the Hope Valley Country Club and neighborhood. Ticket prices will increase by $10, starting April 1st. https://www.preservationdurham.org/hometour

Join local street historian John Schelp at the Durham Main Library on Saturday, April 25th, from 4pm-5pm to explore Durham through an amazing collection of historic postcards. Co-hosted by Preservation Durham, @durhamhistory, and @durhamcountylibrary in celebration of Library Fest 2026 from April 20-25. https://durhamcountylibrary.libcal.com/event/16496870

Mark your calendars for Tuesday May 12th from 6pm-7:30pm to celebrate accomplishments from the past year and learn about what’s in store for this year at our Annual Meeting & Home Tour Lecture. Learn more and register for this free event at: www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture

Take a virtual tour of 1925 James E. and Annie Day Shepard House, 1902 Fayetteville Street, with North Carolina Central University Archivist, Andre Vann. The house is celebrating it's centennial this year! @nccueagle https://youtu.be/oOThO4LXUC0

Building Community Through Preservation Along Durham's Fayetteville Street Corridor In the run-up to Veterans Day 2025, a group of residents and local volunteers gathered at Beechwood Cemetery along Durham's Fayetteville Street Corridor for a day of history sharing, cemetery preservation, and service. It marked the launch of a service-learning partnership between Hayti Promise Community Development Corporation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's HOPE (Hands-On Preservation Experience) Crew. @savingspaces @haytipromise https://savingplaces.org/stories/building-community-through-preservation-durhams-fayetteville-street?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdEPVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe4ZR7utH5iZ5v99hO3659-xEOm6aetDywsvZMtERIcouWZYD4aR3IwTeEBYA_aem_dKCeDTABDkf7XrDztuWiVA

❗️Giveaway Announcement❗️We’re excited to be a proud community partner of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival this year and have five vouchers to give away!!! Anyone who purchases a ticket to our home tour on May 16-17 in Hope Valley and/or registers to attend the free Annual Meeting/Home Tour Lecture held at the Hope Valley Country Club on May 12th, will be entered to win a free voucher to attend a film of your choice at the 28th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, to be held April 16-19, 2026, in downtown Durham. Register for the Home Tour at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/hometour and the Annual Meeting/Home Tour Lecture at: https://www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture We’ll announce the winners on April 1 and get your passes to you ASAP. The film lineup for the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival will be announced on Thursday March 12th https://www.fullframefest.org/

Learn how to leverage your historic home's rehabilitation at a Tax Credit Workshop at Forest Hills Club House this Wednesday March 4, from 7pm-8:30pm. See more at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AqxP3XE-zRs_shb3Y-m1TwZQXLOp8_E4/view

The City of Durham in partnership with Ira Knight Presents seeks actors to perform scripted biographical monologues and one collaborative scene for an onsite living history event at Beechwood Cemetery, located at 3300 Fayetteville Street, Durham. Beechwood Cemetery was founded in 1924 to serve Durham’s community. Over a century later, it remains a place of remembrance and history. Auditions will be held on Thursday, March 12 at Durham City Hall. Actors will portray prominent figures laid to rest at Beechwood and share their stories with audiences in an onsite outdoor performance. Learn more at https://www.durhamnc.gov/5325

We are excited to announce our free home tour lecture and annual meeting, May 12th at the Hope Valley Country Club! In celebration of our 2026 home tour, Hope Valley Centennial, local author Lee Pace will discuss the history of the Hope Valley Golf Course and Country Club based on research from his new book, Hope Valley Country Club, The First One Hundred Years, 1926-2026. The event will start with Preservation Durham's annual meeting, a recap of what we have accomplished in the past year, and what we have in store for this year. Lee Pace will then begin the home tour lecture at 6:30. Register now for this free event at the link in our bio or www.preservationdurham.org/hometourlecture

Join NCCU Architecture, the Eyrie Initiative, NCNOMA, and the NCCU student chapter NOMAS for an intergenerational dialogue celebrating the architects who have shaped—and continue to shape—the built environment of North Carolina. This special Black History Month program begins with an illustrated lecture on the history of Black architects in North Carolina, followed by a live panel conversation and audience Q&A featuring trailblazing practitioners whose leadership has defined the profession. Panelists: George Smart Arthur Clement Danita Brown Cathy Morrison When: Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET on Zoom (link in bio) This program centers on legacy, leadership, and the pathways forged by Black architects across our state and is put on by @NCCU Architecture, the Eyrie Initiative, @ncnoma, and the NCCU student chapter NOMAS.

Join Preservation Durham as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hope Valley with this year's home tour! https://www.preservationdurham.org/hometour

Preservation Durham joined @nccueagle and the Hayti Promise Community Development Corporation to celebrate the opening of the "We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina" exhibit at the James E. Shepard Memorial Library last Friday, January 6th. We are so grateful to all of the partners who came together to display this exhibit for the first time in Durham. This exhibit shares stories of many Black architects and builders who designed and built some of our state's most renowned landmarks, many of which are located in Durham. You can visit the "We Built This" exhibit from now until March 31st during the James E. Shepard Memorial Library's hours of operation.

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The Historic Preservation Society of Durham staff