In partnership with Durham Public Schools, the Museum sent an updated version of its Faces of Durham exhibit to Ms. Turquoise Parker’s Media Center at Lakewood Elementary School, making history more accessible than ever to her students.

 

The MoDH team had a chance to spend time with Ms. Parker as we carefully took down the exhibit, which had been set up there for the previous week.  She related how she had used the exhibit as a unique opportunity for her students to explore Durham’s past by learning about the important people who have made Durham the wonderful city it is today.

 

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Ms. Parker, pictured above, proudly shows off her students’ work stemming from the Faces of Durham exhibit.

 

(Ms. Parker asked that we make it clear it was Lakewood’s Pajama Day and that she does not usually dress like this!)

 

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Ms. Parker used the exhibit to engage her Kindergarten through 5^th Grade students in discussions and hands-on activities that made history feel alive and relevant. This experience was a powerful way to connect with Durham’s past and see how it continues to shape our present.

 

One exercise was for students to look for an example of a person who should receive a fictional award and write about it with various prompts provided.  Here is one that talks about Mamie Dowd Walker, and one that commends Jean Spaulding, alongside their “entries” in the Faces of Durham exhibit:

 

 

Another activity was to color in a worksheet while also reading more about what the person accomplished.

 

 

 

Unlike traditional museum exhibits filled with artifacts, the Museum of Durham History, located in Downtown Durham, focuses on the people who have shaped our city.  Faces of Durham continues that theme: With a photo and caption for every individual, the exhibit features a selection of both familiar and lesser-known faces from Bull City’s past and present.

 

Highlighting a broad range of contributions—from Industry and Commerce to Arts and Human Relations—Faces of Durham essentially maps Durham’s development from a railway stop in the 1860s to a booming tobacco town in the early 1900s, to the City of Medicine in the 1980s, and finally to today’s revitalized hub of arts and innovation.

 

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Making It Possible

The revamped version of Faces of Durham was made possible through the generous support of the PNC Foundation. Thanks to their contribution, more students across Durham Public Schools can experience these engaging and inspiring lessons about our city’s history.

 

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Bringing the Exhibit to More Schools

The Museum is encouraging interested educators to request the new iteration of the Faces of Durham traveling exhibit in their schools!  Perfect for classrooms and school media centers, this newly designed version of the fan-favorite program teaches students—from elementary school through college—about some of the many individuals who have made an impact on Durham.

 

Even for those who have hosted the exhibit before, this latest version is worth reserving again.  With a focus on aesthetics and ergonomics, the new Faces of Durham display is easier than ever to set up and move.

 

If you’re an educator interested in bringing this engaging exhibit to your school, reach out to programming@modh.org or call 919.246.9993 for more details.