Looking for ways to commemorate and reflect on the history and culture of the African American community? The Museum of Durham History is a great resource for local educators and families to learn more about the community’s African American history.

Events

John Harvey Wheeler, Black Banking, and the Economic Struggle for Civil Rights Book Talk with Brandon Winford 

Join us at the Museum of Durham History on Friday February 7th from 6-8PM for a conversation with Dr. Brandon K. Winford about his recently published book, John Hervey Wheeler, Black Banking, and the Economic Struggle for Civil Rights.

Exhibits

A Creative Protest: MLK Comes to Durham

Dr. King made several visits to Durham between 1956 and 1964 and gave six speeches, including his “Creative Protest” address at the White Rock Baptist Church in 1960. A Creative Protest these speeches in relation to the Civil Rights Movement at the local and national level. This exhibit features stories from local residents about Durham during the Civil Rights Era, their relationships with Dr. King, and reactions to his assassination.

Durham Beginnings: 1865-1885  

An exhibit featuring five dramatic but little-known personal stories evoking the spirit of Durham’s formative years. Three of these featured stories focus on life following emancipation for Durham’s African American community: Margaret Faucette, Richard Fitzgerald, and Abner Jordan.

Look Beyond the Windows: NC Mutual Life Insurance

Using the Downtown Durham landscape to show change over time, part of the Look Beyond the Windows exhibit examines the growth of Durham’s successful black-owned North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Black Wall Street.

Explore Durham Through Time Touchscreen

The Museum features and on-site digital timeline with key points from Durham’s history from 1600 through 2017. Many of the events covered focus on Durham’s African American history including the formation of Hayti, Black Wall Street, and NCCU; Civil Rights Era sit-ins and protests; and the detrimental construction of Highway 147.

Partner Resources

Durham County Library Civil Rights Heritage Project

John Hope Franklin Research Center for African American History & Culture

Mapping Civil & Human Rights History in Durham – The Pauli Murray Project

Hayti Heritage Center Film Festival February 13-15