Museum of Durham History

05/23/2026

Did you know? There was a new historical marker put up for Ar Razzaq Islamic Center located in Durham’s West End, which holds the distinction of being North Carolina’s first mosque and a foundational institution in the state’s Islamic history. Established in 1956 as Muhammad’s Mosque #34 under the Nation of Islam, the center emerged from Durham’s growing African American Muslim community. Check it out! 🐂📍

05/10/2026

🌈 You’re invited!

The Museum of Durham History will open its newest exhibit, To Love and Live Free: The 1986 Mayoral Recall Fight and the Origins of Durham Pride, with a public celebration on:

📆 Friday, May 15, 2026
🕕 6PM
📍 Museum of Durham History (500 W. Main St.)

This event is FREE and open to the public! Enjoy complimentary food and beverages courtesy of Queeny’s and Ponysaurus 🍴🍻, plus a special performance by members of The Common Woman Chorus 🎶

Featured speakers include former Durham Mayor Wib Gulley, activist and scholar Mab Segrest, activist and Pride organizer Meredith Emmett, exhibit curator Andrew Nurkin, and more. ✨

05/09/2026

🚨 Heads up! We will be closed May 11–14 while we install our new exhibit.

We’ll reopen for normal hours on Friday, May 15! Stop by to explore our newest exhibit, To Love and Live Free: The 1986 Mayoral Recall Fight and the Origins of Durham Pride 🌈📖

Join us at the Museum for our opening celebration:
📅 Friday, May 15, 2026
🕕 6PM

We can’t wait to welcome you back! ✨

05/07/2026

👀 Want a sneak peek at our upcoming exhibit "To Love and Live Free: The 1986 Mayoral Recall Fight and the Origins of Durham Pride"? 📽️ This fascinating exhibition will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the “Out Today, Out To Stay” Pride march and the failed attempt to recall Mayor Wib Gulley in 1986 for his support of LGBTQ+ rights. 🏳️‍🌈 It will tell how Durham found itself at a crossroads between tolerance and bigotry, showing how today’s inclusive Durham emerged through organizing, protest, and moral courage from citizens, faith leaders, business owners, and activists who united for equal rights—and won. 🏆🟰

📍 Join us for an exciting opening event, Friday, May 15 at 6pm, here at the Museum of Durham History! Free food, heartfelt speeches, and a special performance by the Common Women's Choir all wrapped into one FREE event 🆓

🗓️ Put us on your calendar now, and keep an eye out for upcoming programming to go along with this powerful exhibit!

05/06/2026

⚛️ Haven't seen our amazing RTP exhibit yet? 🧪🔬 Don't worry, you still have time to learn about all the amazing stories this weekend! 🗓️

"Made In The Triangle: The Story of RTP" will be on display through 5/10, so make us part of your mother's day and graduation celebrations 💐🎓 Grab a drink in our Bull Pen social district 🍺🐂, take home some free Museum swag, and enjoy a taste of Durham's innovative history before it's gone! 🔧🌱

05/03/2026

Check out Amped for Stagville, a donation-based benefit concert featuring Durham’s own Vertigo Conspiracy. Enjoy great music, food and drinks; all in support of preserving and sharing the history of Historic Stagville.

📍 Bull McCabe's Pub
427 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
🗓 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

04/28/2026

Join us at the Museum of Life and Science for story time tomorrow, April 29th, at 11:30AM! Hear the inspirational story of Augusta Baker, a Black librarian who fought for positive representation of Black culture in children's books, and the power that storytelling holds in the popular book, Go Forth and Tell. 📚✨

04/24/2026

Check out this workshop!

Join genealogy expert Debra Taylor Gonzalez-Garcia for Durham’s Treasures: Unearthing History through Death Records, a fascinating workshop exploring how obituaries, death certificates, and burial records can reveal untold histories.

📅 Saturday, May 2
⏰ 1:15 PM
📍 Durham County Main Library

📝 Register online through the Durham County Library website

04/22/2026

📚 Are you a book lover? 🧬 How about a science enthusiast?

Well boy-oh-boy do we have the event for you! 😀 Join the Museum of Durham History on Friday, May 1st, as we team up with Mack and Allen Paul to discuss their upcoming book, "Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park". 🔬

💬 Hear the authors talk about RTP’s history, how they conducted their research, and the implications of their work. Drawing from extensive archival work and years of research and interviews, Miracle Road examines how RTP emerged from a bold mid-20th-century vision to become a global center for innovation. The program will also provide a sneak preview of the book, offering audiences an early look at new perspectives on the Park’s impact and legacy. ⚛️

🗓️ Friday, May 1
📍 NC Biotech Conference Center
🎟️ FREE
⏰ 6pm-8pm

Can't wait to see you there! 👀

The Museum of Durham History is dedicated to expanding the perspectives from our staff and network of guest contributors, while exploring the rich history of Durham, NC.

04/22/2026

Quick reminder! Tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, we will be at the Main Library from 12-2pm recording oral histories. If you have a story you would like to share, then stop by! We'd love to chat with you and hear your story. 🎤 📖

You're welcome to bring personal photos along if you would like to have that recorded as well! See you then! 👋 🐂

04/20/2026

🚨Heads up! Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21, we will be at the Bragtown Library from 12-2pm recording oral histories. If you have a story you would like to share, then stop by! We'd love to see you and hear your story. 🎤 📖

You're welcome to bring personal photos along if you would like to have that recorded as well! See you then! 👋 🐂