History Hub A Great DCVB Partnership

With its grand opening now immortalized within its walls, the Museum of Durham History's (MoDH) History Hub is now open to visitors on the loop in Downtown Durham. Both a collection of artifacts and interactive historical content, the "Hub" facilitates the telling of stories about Durham. Fortunately, many great occurrences, people, ideas, inventions, and movements have been a part of Durham’s great history.

Prior to the Museum's opening, Durham was the only major city in NC without a history museum. DCVB, the Durham Cultural Advisory Committee and many other organizations and individuals had rated a history museum a top priority for the destination.

"Durham is rich in many ways.  But there was a void in our product that needed to be filled," said Shelly Green, President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB). "I'm proud that DCVB has been actively involved in the evolution of this project since the beginning," Green added.

The museum already has quite a history itself to which DCVB contributed as part of a team of civic and municipal organizations that helped get the project rolling. Charged with marketing Durham as a place to visit, live, and do business, DCVB was instrumental in the museum's incorporation, designed the original Museum of Durham History (not the History Hub) logo, helped crowd-source images of historical figures through its extensive social media network and produced print collateral. It was also involved in developing concepts for the grand opening events and for providing promotion and media coverage for the Grand Opening, and beyond.

Ribbon-cutting for the opening of the
Museum of Durham History's History Hub
 Photo by Mark Schultz

The Saturday, October 12 ribbon-cutting included State Senators Floyd McKissick and Mike Woodard, Mayor William V. "Bill" Bell, Durham County Commissioner Vice Chair Brenda Howerton, several members of the Board of Commissioners and City Council, a representative from Congressman Price's office, museum board members, as well as DCVB's Shelly Green.

Equally important, there was significant community participation at the grand opening event. More than 500 people attended, including 15 groups which participated in the morning parade and 20 different groups and individuals that performed or led activities on the grounds from Noon - 5.

Learn more about visiting Durham's great history online.