Downtown Durham Historic District

Downtown Durham Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Carolina Theatre, Downtown Durham Historic District, September 2019
Location	Roughly bounded by Peabody, Morgan, Seminary, Cleveland, Parrish, and Queen Sts., Durham, North Carolina
Coordinates	35°59′42″N 78°54′01″W
Area	24 acres (9.7 ha)
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	77000998
Added to NRHP	November 1, 1977

Downtown Durham Historic District is a national historic district located at Durham, Durham County, North Carolina. The district encompasses 97 contributing buildings and one contributing structure in the central business district of Durham. The buildings primarily date from the first four decades of the 20th century and include notable examples of Colonial Revival, Italianate, and Art Deco styles.

Historical Context

Durham emerged as a major industrial and commercial center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily due to the success of its tobacco and textile industries. The city's growth was fueled by the Duke family, whose investments in tobacco and hydroelectric power played a significant role in shaping Durham’s economy. Black Wall Street, centered around Parrish Street, became a hub for African American entrepreneurship, home to businesses such as the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank, both of which were instrumental in supporting Black economic independence during the Jim Crow era.

Notable Buildings

The district contains numerous historically and architecturally significant buildings. Among them, St. Philip's Episcopal Church (1907) stands as a Gothic Revival structure reflecting the city's religious heritage. The Durham Arts Council Building (1906), originally the city's main library, now serves as a center for cultural events.

Several churches in the district contribute to its historical significance, including First Presbyterian Church (1916), known for its early 20th-century ecclesiastical architecture, and Trinity United Methodist Church (1880–1881), one of Durham's oldest surviving churches. First Baptist Church (1926–1927) is notable for its grand classical facade.

Civic and commercial architecture also feature prominently. The Durham County Courthouse (1916) is a neoclassical structure serving as a governmental focal point, while the Carolina Theatre of Durham (1920s) remains an Art Deco landmark and performing arts venue. The Hill Building (1935), designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, the architects behind the Empire State Building, exemplifies early skyscraper design. The Snow Building (1933) and S.H. Kress Store reflect Durham’s Art Deco and early 20th-century commercial architecture.

Civil Rights and Social History

Durham played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, with sit-ins and demonstrations taking place throughout the downtown area. Black Wall Street was a crucial economic and social force, fostering African American business development despite segregation. In 1957, Durham was the site of one of the first sit-ins challenging segregation at the Royal Ice Cream Parlor, predating the more famous Greensboro sit-ins by three years.

Preservation and Modern Use

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the district has been the focus of extensive preservation efforts. Many historic buildings have been adapted for modern use, including conversion into offices, apartments, and restaurants. The American Tobacco Historic District, a former tobacco factory complex adjacent to the district, has been revitalized into a mixed-use development, further cementing Durham’s reputation as a hub for innovation and culture.

2017 Confederate Monument Removal

On August 14, 2017, a 15-foot-high statue of a Confederate soldier was torn down in front of the 1916 Durham County Courthouse by demonstrators. The removal followed the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counter-demonstrator was killed. The statue, erected in 1924, had been a point of controversy, with critics arguing that it glorified a racist past. The incident was part of a broader national movement to reassess Confederate symbols in public spaces.