Preservation Durham

Salutes the Rambling Ranch!

The Tour:

Preservation Durham’s annual home tour is an important part of our mission and annual fundraising to preserve and protect Durham’s culturally diverse history, heritage and historic assets through education, advocacy and action. The tour offers glimpses into homes that have been lovingly maintained, rehabilitated, and adapted to life. Through this showcase, we endeavor to foster a deeper connection to our collective heritage, encouraging stewardship and admiration for the structures that shape our community's identity.


The Theme:

The Ranch is a truly American house – a form not derived from European or colonial antecedents. Born in California in the 1930s, the Ranch Style swept the country in the years following World War Two. The Ranch expressed Americans’ aspirations for the future – a future free from the hardships and sacrifices of depression and war, a future free from class and social divisions, and a future with informal family life at its center. Ranch houses dominated residential construction across the country during the 1950s and 1960s. Thousands were built in Durham. Deeply associated with the automobile, the television, and other modern conveniences, the ranch house shaped urban development and reflected American social change for decades. 


The Details:

The tour takes place over two days, Saturday May 18 and Sunday May 19, rain or shine. Tickets grant access to all houses on either day or both days from 12-4pm. You can break the tour up into two days, do it all in one, or take the entire tour twice! Early-bird tickets are available at a reduced rate of $30 for Preservation Durham Members and $40 for the General Public until the end of April. Ticket prices will increase May 1. Unsure if your membership is active? Log in to your account or give us a call, we'll be happy to check for you. Tickets are given at the tour check-in point on both days. You will receive an email confirmation with all event directions and details a week before the tour. Children are welcome to attend and stay with parents, but strollers are not permitted inside houses. The tour does require driving to houses around the city and you are responsible for your own transportation.

Sponsors and volunteers make the Annual Home Tour Happen!

Interested in sponsoring the events like the Annual Home Tour? View our sponsor information or reach out to Julianne Patterson for details. Interested in volunteering? Contact Sydney Alston.

Share by: