Durham, NC- Durham 150 is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the City of Durham’s incorporation. From 1869 until now, the City of Durham has undergone massive change filled with successes and shortcomings.
Opening ceremonies began on Saturday April 13. From then until closing ceremonies on November 2, Durham 150 will hold more than 150 events geared towards community members. According to the press release, each event will fall under one of the four pillars of Durham: history & education, innovation & entrepreneurship, social equity & robust democracy and arts & leisure. Durham 150 highlights all of the good and bad that has occurred over the last 150 years in hopes of reflecting on the city’s history in its totality.
The Past
One of the most important moments in Durham’s history begins with its roots in tobacco. In 1890 the American Tobacco Company (ATC) was founded by J. B. Duke through the merger of several tobacco companies. At one point they produced more than 90 percent of the cigarettes in the United States and were one of the original 12 members of the Dow Jones.
Tobacco played such a pivotal role in Durham’s culture that Durham’s first baseball team was named after tobacco.
