Tour the sites of Durham’s outstanding African American history, and learn what made Durham such a unique community for black people in the early 20th Century.

 

EXPERIENCE:

Durham is the home of a litany of African American historic sites. Once the site of America’s largest black-owned business, the community known as Black Wall Street was a refuge of hope and opportunity for an oppressed people. Whether you want to learn about architects, artists, activists, or entrepreneurs, the African American history tour will surely inspire you.

This historian-guided tour takes guests between various sites of historic significance in Durham’s downtown area. The tour begins at the Ella West Gallery in downtown Durham and continues to various sites in the area, such as the original site of Merrick-Wright Barbers, Mutual Life Insurance Company (the largest black-owned company in America for most of the 20th Century), the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and much more.

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Guided by a local historian
Walk through Durham’s Black Wall Street
Hear why Durham became a symbol of hope to black Americans during Reconstruction

 

 

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