Greetings from the Durham History Hub!

The Hub is the first home of the Museum of Durham History, a museum-in-progress that has thus far existed online and out in the community. The goal has always been to one day open the doors to a physical location–a venue where Durhamites and visitors can explore and celebrate this unique place and its rich history.

We’re closer than we’ve ever been. In April the museum’s Board of Directors signed a lease with the City of Durham on the former bus transfer station. We’re pretty in love with this cheerful place. It’s far from the window-less spaces that some museums call home, and we think the floor-to-ceiling windows will encourage the kind of open, engaging atmosphere that’s so important to us. The view from inside is of places like Liggett and Myers warehouses, Walker Warehouse/the Amtrak station, the NC Mutual building, the Lucky Strike water tower, West Main St, the Durham Arts Council (former City Hall), and the list goes on.

We are moving into the History Hub in three stages: The first stage is a basic upfit to get the place ready for events, programs, and a staff office. The second stage is a more thorough upfit of the building, and the third stage is exhibition installation. If you come by the Hub these days, you’ll see we are almost through with stage one. There are banners in the windows, a coat of paint on the walls, and a small office in one corner. We just have to get the bathroom fixed up and then we’re ready for you to step inside and tell us what you think. Our FIRST EVER event at the Hub will be an Open House July 20 6pm-10pm. More details to come on that.

For now, thanks for stopping by the blog, and stay tuned!