Whistle Stop Tours
Get ready to learn more about Durham's African American history on an engaging storytelling performance-based tour through Durham's historically Black neighborhoods. Created by Aya Shabu in 2011, Durham's Whistle Stop walking tours is a contributing voice in shaping the public memory of North Carolina’s slave past and African American achievement. With partnerships that include the Hayti Heritage Center and the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, the tours celebrate the forefathers and foremothers of Durham’s Black Wall Street, Hayti and West End neighborhoods. Expect to see performers and activists, scholars and public historians, natives and long-time residents coming together to preserve African American neighborhoods by sharing their stories. Reserve a spot on a custom group tour, available for birthdays, family reunions, professional retreats, class field trips and more. (Bus tours are available upon request at an additional cost.)
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This was a highlight of our trip to Durham. The conductors of this tour are professional actors and dancers who relate some of the history of the Black business people, doctors, and entrepreneurs who helped make Black Wall Street in Durham. It is exceptionally well done. Highly recommended for everyone interested in history, especially what isn't written in our history books.
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A must for anyone who loves history, especially for understanding our present through looking at aspects of the past. I won't say I think this should be a required tour for anyone who wants to live or work in Durham because tours are best when done in a spirit of openness and curiosity. I will say anyone who wants to live or work in Durham should feel convicted that doing this tour is a key part of joining the Durham community. For visitors- highly recommend anyone who is a student/fan of Crash Course Black American History make the trip to Durham for this tour.
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FIVE STARS! An absolute must-do in Durham. We took a tour with the incomparable Teli Shabu, starting at the Durham Civil Rights Mural, then the Hayti Heritage Center, the Pauli Murray home and Cultural Center, then ended at the Fitzgerald cemetery. Teli performed compelling pieces written by Aya Shabu at the Hayti Heritage Center and the Murray home, which further illuminated historical detail. This tour will stay with us forever and we are grateful to Teli and Aya for providing an indelible experience- we gained an appreciation of Durham's rich history we could not have gotten from a book or website.
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Awesome
