Historic Sites
Durham, North Carolina is a welcoming and undeniably fun vacation destination for travelers from across the map to enjoy year-round. When you’re looking for a place where you can pair customized adventures with top dining and shopping stops too, Durham has something wonderful waiting for you. It’s also a place where history buffs can happily travel back in time thanks to the city’s robust lineup of historic stops to check out. When you can’t wait to boost your itinerary with historic sites in Durham, NC, the following are a few to make sure to add to the must-visit list the next time you’re here.
Check Out the Museum of Durham History
Located at 500 W. Main Street, the Museum of Durham History isn’t itself a strictly historic site, but it is a fantastic and comprehensive place to start your history-seeking journey in town when you’re looking for insight into the city’s rich past. The museum is open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday with adjusted hours on Sunday from noon until 5:00 pm. When you drop by, you’ll enjoy taking time to browse the many exhibits and interactive displays that bring Durham’s past back to life before your eyes. The team on-site can provide tours upon request and the many historic photographs will give you context as to what the city looked like once upon a time before you head out to explore those places in a modern-day frame of mind.
Enjoy a Show and Piece of the Past at The Carolina Theatre
When you’re looking to be entertained in a space that pairs modern-day performances in an important and historic space, The Carolina Theatre is the place to be. Located at 309 W. Morgan Street, this beloved arts and cinema complex downtown first opened its doors to the public back in 1926 and was the only theatre in the area to allow both black and white guests to enjoy shows on-site at the time. Today, it’s operated by a nonprofit known as The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc., and continues to be a place where visitors come to be entertained in good company just as they were nearly 100 years ago.
Explore Brightleaf Square
The footprint of Durham’s past is still evident when you take time to explore Brightleaf Square while you’re in town. This modern hub of retail, culinary arts, and culture is built within a collection of architecture dating back to the turn-of-the-century industrial boom that occurred in Durham. The district sits on the National Register of Historic Places and the two former tobacco warehouses that dominate the landscape here date back to 1904. Whether you’re in the mood to check out a craft brewery, grab a slice of pizza, shop for jewelry, or grab an ice cream cone with the family, you can do so at Brightleaf Square all within a setting that still retains a vibrant homage to the past.
Make Time for a Stop at the Bennett Place Historic Site
Head over to 4409 Bennett Memorial Road in Durham during your next visit to enjoy touring the Bennett Place Historic Site. This unassuming farmhouse was, in fact, the very location where Union General Sherman and Confederate General Johnston met in April of 1865 to sign surrender papers for Southern armies in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Visitors can enjoy the opportunity to stand in the place where the first agreement to end the Civil War took place any Tuesday through Saturday of the week between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. There’s never any admission cost required to tour the farmhouse and guests have options to take part in hour-long guided tours between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm or opt for a self-guided tour of the location instead.
Book Your Getaway to Durham Today
Elevate your Durham journey in luxury and style when you book your stay at the Arrowhead Inn the next time you’re here. Reach out today to learn more and to start turning your travel plans into a reality soon!
