Upcoming Tours

2025 Home Tour: The Golden Anniversary

Saturday and Sunday, May 17th-18th. 12pm-4pm both days.

In rounding off our celebration of our 50th anniversary, join us on our annual home tour as we commemorate a handful of the homes that make up our plaque program. 9 houses of different architectural styles, build dates, and histories will be highlighted this year.

Cocktails & Cornices Walking Tours

5:30-7pm on the following Tuesdays in 2025: April 8th, May 12th, June 9th, July 8th, August 12th, and September 8th. FREE for Preservation Durham Members, $12 for General Admission.

Join Preservation Durham for a tour highlighting the architectural history of Downtown Durham's Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. Grab a drink and stroll through the "social district" as you learn all about Downtown’s architectural quirks and commonalities. Built by the successful entrepreneurs of early 20th century Durham, buildings Downtown were designed by nationally known architects like Milburn and Heister, Bertrand E. Taylor, Edward F. Sibbert, and Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, as well as by local companies Rose and Rose, George Watts Carr, Hill C. Linthicum, and Atwood and Weeks. As you walk through Downtown, you can view fine examples of many architectural styles popularized in the 20th century, including Art Deco, Italianate, Neo-Classical, and post-World War II Modernism.

Tour attendees will be responsible for purchasing their own drinks and should plan to buy their drinks before the tour starts. The starting point/bar will be sent in your confirmation email the week before the tour. In the case of inclement weather the tour will be postponed.