Durham History Hub Opens New Exhibit Dec 10

With just six weeks of operation under its belt, the Museum of Durham History's Durham History Hub is making good on its promise to keep displays fresh.

The Museum of Durham History will present a new "Our Bull City" exhibit developed by Duke’s John Hope Franklin Young Scholars Program. The Durham History Hub, located at 500 West Main Street, is home of the Museum of Durham History, the only museum in the heart of downtown.

On Tuesday, December 10, the Hub will open the Young Scholars’ innovative exhibit that weaves the narrative of a Durham teen through the writings of John Hope Franklin, the internationally known historian, author, scholar, and professor. The exhibit will focus on the life stories of Franklin and a fictional Durham teen named Kendrick, who shares experiences similar to Franklin’s. Visitors will be invited to engage in the Young Scholars collaborative writing process by interacting with life-size wood cutouts of the main characters in the book, re-organizing the plot elements, and adding suggestions to help shape this book for young teens. The final version will be published in January 2015 to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Franklin.

The JHF Young Scholars Program, part of Duke’s Center for African and African American Research, introduces high-potential middle schoolers—mostly members of under-represented minorities—to the highest principles and most vivid examples of university research, paving their path toward college.

”After three years of trying to carry on John Hope’s legacy with focused research on plantation workers, freedom crafters, and the Great Migration, the Young Scholars were surprised to discover that few young people had ever heard of John Hope Franklin,” said David Stein, JHFYS program director. “With his 100th birthday coming up, they decided this was a great time to introduce Dr. Franklin to a younger generation.”

“This will be the second exhibit at the Hub to feature teen perspectives on Durham history,” said Katie Spencer, the Museum’s executive director. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the creative and energetic Young Scholars and to partner with them to share the amazing life of John Hope Franklin with the people who walk through our doors.”

The exhibit will be up throughout the holidays, when the Hub will be open for regular Tuesday-through-Saturday hours, 10am to 5pm, on every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Free hot cider and cookies are available every Tuesday and Wednesday in December. The Hub has no admission charge.

Learn more about Durham's great history at www.durham-nc.com.