NC Piedmont
Cultural Attractions In Durham
Located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, Durham is a vibrant city that offers a unique culture and mix of attractions. It boasts nationally acclaimed restaurants, an artistic community, historical sites and even a starring role in the backdrop of several movies.
Visitors may recognize Durham as the setting of one of the most famous sports movies of all time, Bull Durham. In fact, the release of the movie in 1988 garnered international recognition for the city’s minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls. The film is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013. North Carolina is home to one of the biggest film industries in the country and Durham has seen quite a bit of that activity. Other notable movies filmed in Durham include Kiss the Girls, Billy Bathgate, The Handmaid’s Tale and Once Around.
Performing or visual, Durham has great art. Aside from its nationally acclaimed landmark DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center), Durham is home to more than 400 working artists, so it’s no wonder Durham also has a wealth of visual art to appreciate. There are 43 museums and galleries, including the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery at the Hayti Heritage Center and the internationally recognized Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Durham’s food scene continues to draw attention for its innovative chefs and restaurateurs. Whether it’s pizza off a truck or dinner at one of the nation’s top-ranked fine dining restaurants, food in Durham is among the best in the state. Visitors can choose from more than 550 restaurants, dozens of which have received praise and media attention from the likes of Southern Living, The New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appétit, Esquire, and Gourmet.
While Durham is known for its modern advancements in medicine, technology and educational institutions, it also has a rich history. The city was once home to two Native American tribes. The Great Indian Trading Path has been traced through Durham, and Native Americans helped to mold the area by establishing settlements and commercial transportation routes. Durham also played an important part in the Civil War, and visitors can still visit war sites that remain today. Following the Civil War, Durham is where the South’s industrial revolution started with tobacco and textile industries. It is also the site where the Civil Rights movement gained significant traction. History buffs will enjoy taking in all the historic places and landmarks throughout the city.
Spend time in Durham and discover all the city has to offer. With a celebrated public park system and amazing access to nature at state recreation areas, forests, and waterways, as well as distinctive shopping districts, and a very walkable downtown, Durham is a place where visitors really can enjoy it all.
Credit: Durham CVB
added: December 21, 2012
updated: December 21, 2012
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