On July 20th, MoDH staff, along with other members of the Durham Humanities Alliance, convened at Five Points Plaza to share “Free History Lessons” on Durham’s Confederate monument. MoDH has been working closely with other local humanities organizations and Historians for a Better Future, a Raleigh-based public history group, to plan the event.

Historians answered questions during Third Friday Durham about the history of the monument, provided resources for understanding its 2017 toppling, and promoted dialogue on how to move forward.

Members of the public were encouraged to provide creative input about what could be done with the empty pedestal at the courthouse. This feedback will be submitted to the Durham City-County Committee on Confederate Monuments. The group received a positive response from the public, which the Humanities Alliance hopes will lead to more “Free History Lessons” events in the near future.

To see more photos from the event check out our Facebook page!