Friends of Geer Cemetery summer pop-up exhibit
The Museum of Durham History and the Friends of Geer Cemetery invite the community to explore Generational Journeys, a one-day outdoor pop-up exhibit that builds upon the success of the collaborative 2025 exhibition, Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery. Join us as we uncover the paths that brought generations of people to Durham and honor the lives and legacies preserved at Geer Cemetery.
Through hands-on activities, conversations with historians and community experts, and opportunities to connect with local organizations, visitors will discover the stories of African American families whose journeys brought them to Durham and whose lives helped shape the community we know today.
Organized by decade, from the 1880s through the 1920s, the exhibit examines how migration influenced the growth of Durham’s Black community. Each decade will highlight a different theme related to movement, opportunity, family, and community-building, featuring the stories of individuals now buried at Geer Cemetery. Their experiences reveal broader patterns of migration and resilience that connected Durham to communities across North Carolina and beyond.
Visitors can meet representatives from organizations including the Friends of Geer Cemetery, the Stagville Memorial Project, the Descendant Council, and other community partners who will be on hand to host information tables and share resources related to genealogy, preservation, local history, and descendant engagement.
Designed for all ages, Generational Journeys offers opportunities to learn, ask questions, explore family history, and engage with Durham’s past in an interactive outdoor setting.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Free and open to the public