Public Art & Inspiration Guide

In the Guide–

Downtown

Feel the arts come alive as you explore Durham’s dynamic downtown, the heartbeat of the destination and starting point for adventure. The downtown area is easily accessible by foot, bike, car or public transportation, with sidewalks connecting people to the local shops and restaurants that keep the community buzzing. Spend some time with the vibrant murals, painted electrical boxes and intricate sculptures that tell Durham’s story and bring the city to life.

Central Durham

Central Durham overflows with public art, attractions and thriving businesses near Durham’s two prestigious universities and their neighboring communities. Spend some time exploring North Carolina Central University, the nation’s first state-supported liberal arts college for Black students. Check out the Hayti District, Fayetteville Street Corridor and Hillside Park — areas that have carried the legacy of Durham’s thriving Black middle-class and business community since the early 1900s.

Nearby lies the beautifully revitalized Golden Belt Campus, an arts and entertainment hub showcasing Durham’s brick-laden textile history with lively arts and local dining. Bypass downtown and head west for unique and quirky finds, eclectic storefronts and local eateries in the Ninth Street, West End and Lakewood neighborhoods. Finish sightseeing at the West and East Campuses of Duke University, home to stunning architecture and many of Durham’s renowned landmarks, including Duke Chapel and Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

North Durham

With several trails, parks and outdoor spaces, nature abounds in North Durham and provides peaceful escapes and outdoor recreation. In addition to exploring the great outdoors, you can take an afternoon to visit a museum full of science and nature experiences, find more murals and meet a gigantic, friendly dinosaur.

Start your adventure on the West Ellerbe Creek Trail, which is primarily used for walking, nature trips and birding. Follow the trail to see colorful murals by the pedestrian tunnel and continue on to take a selfie with Bronto, a beloved 77-foot brontosaurus built in 1967.

Discover a universe of nature exploration and science learning at the Museum of Life and Science, and then experience art activated at the Club Crossing Project. Finish your trip to North Durham by visiting the Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography at West Point on the Eno City Park.

South Durham

Not to be overshadowed by a hip and happening downtown, two prestigious universities in Central Durham or the outdoor expanses in the North, South Durham is a destination in its own right. With lush, green areas and one of the best destination malls in the Southeast, there’s no shortage of things to do and see.

Start at Research Triangle Park where the multi-story wall mural at Boxyard RTP is as layered and vibrant as the story behind it. Head to UHill Walls to see 40,000 square feet of murals and visit the surrounding retail businesses. Finish your outing with a trip to The Streets at Southpoint, where 23 bronze statues depicting children playing and numerous mock-advertisement murals are hidden in plain sight. There’s also a 70-foot smokestack at the end of the outdoor stretch of the mall that pays homage to the heritage of downtown Durham.