View New Durham A to Z Exhibit, 5:30pm -7pm, April 1

“B is for Brick” will launch the first quarterly rotation in the History Hub’s Durham A to Z exhibit area on Tuesday, April 1. Stop by the Hub at 500 W. Main that day for a party from 5:30pm to 7pm.

The new exhibit highlights Durham’s significant brick industry and architecture, an important aspect of the history Durhamites see all around them. “Durham wouldn’t be Durham without  bricks,” said Katie Spencer, Executive Director of the Museum of Durham History, the Hub’s parent organization.

Exhibits will rotate quarterly, with C debuting July 1, D in October and E next January.  Each exhibit will kick off with an alphabetically appropriate reception, with volunteers developing a B-themed menu and music for the April 1 event.  Expect barbeque, brie and brew with background music featuring, you guessed it, bricks in the titles. “It’s going to be a fun get-together, and we hope to see a lot of folks as passionate as we are about Durham and its architectural heritage,” Spencer said.  That evening, passionate Durhamites can even pick up a Durham A-Z Club card to be stamped at each A-Z party.

Durham A to Z exhibits are supported by donations, and 17 individuals and companies have bought one or more $200 bricks to make the new installation possible. Contributors include:  The Kitchen Specialist; Lee Street Construction; Jane Goodridge; Borden Real Estate; Borden Development; Durham Academy; Tom Krakauer; Charles Wilson, Jr.; Video Dialog, Inc.; Wright’s Machinery Co.; Michael and Julie Borden; Carolina Ceramics; Ruth Dzau; Holly Tucker; Scott Spiegel; Michael Schoenfeld; and Southwest Durham Rotary Club. In addition, Sister Cities of Durham has bought a brick honoring Dorothy Borden, and Sam’s Quik Shop has bought bricks honoring The Boy Family, Hollin Boy, Sam’s Quik Shop, Sam’s Bottle Shop and The Blue Light.

The Museum of Durham History is a 21st-century museum that uses stories about people, places and things to foster curiosity, encourage further inquiry, and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history. The Museum’s home, the History Hub, is located at 500 W. Main St. and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 5pm. There is no admission charge. For more information, see www.modh.org.