Museum of Durham History

The Playhouses and Picture Palaces opening weekend celebration continues! This time take a trip over to Fullsteam Theater at the American Tobacco Campus.

Take a front-row seat as we step into the heart of local lore and legend. This new presentation—designed to complement the exhibit, Playhouses and Picture Palaces: The Historical Theaters of Downtown Durham—takes you on a virtual tour of North Carolina’s most historic and haunted performance venues, anchored by The Ghost Guild, Inc. research and investigations, including Durham’s crown jewel, The Carolina Theatre.

Discover stage houses where history still lingers long after the final bow, from tragic backstage legends to the mysterious traditions that keep the ghost lights burning. We’ll also explore how these traditions and stories might have echoed in Durham’s lost theaters if they were still standing today.

Perfect for fans of haunted history, theater arts, and local folklore, this session blends immersive narrative, rich historical context, and our original investigation research to offer a fresh look at the spirits that allegedly inhabit our state’s cultural stages.

These are performances you won’t soon forget—and whether the phantom applause leaves you calling for an encore or looking for the exit, we invite you to stick around!

Join us immediately following the presentation for an informal mixer. By the night of this event, Fullsteam Brewery will have officially opened the doors to their new forever home at the American Tobacco Campus, making this a great opportunity to explore their fresh new space. Come for the presentation, grab a drink, and keep the conversation going with our team and fellow history and paranormal enthusiasts.

This presentation is brought to you by The Ghost Guild in partnership with the Museum of Durham History, with the much-appreciated support of Fullsteam Brewery.