It’s been a year full of Bull City adventures at the MoDH, and we are happy that you were able to be our companions for all the historical fun. We had the opportunity to visit many new places, meet new people, and try many new things, all of which made this year especially meaningful for all of us. Perhaps most importantly, we shared many new stories, some of which have never been heard or read, and will now always be a part of our community’s history.

We are so glad you could join the MoDH on our journey for the past decade and look forward to the future as we celebrate our milestone 10th anniversary in October of 2023. We can’t wait to explore the lesser known parts of Durham’s past, tour downtown on a historic bike ride, sample the culinary culture at some of the city’s most beloved eateries, and have a look back at some Stranger Times.

As we look ahead to 2023, it is curious to reflect that the events, conversations, and memories from 2022 are now part of our history, and that the experiences we have today will be history tomorrow.  When making New Year’s resolutions, we often think about what we hope to achieve, and maybe these accomplishments would be even more memorable if we thought about who we would like to come along for the journey. 

We would be grateful if you would consider a donation to the MoDH to help us continue to grow and reach new milestones in the next year….and decade! There is so much more of Durham’s story to tell, a vast history to explore, and an infinite number of experiences and memories that helped to create each chapter of that story.  Every dollar we receive goes directly to support our exhibits and programming, and donations of any amount make a difference.

As our gift to you, all donations of $50 or more will receive chocolate chip shortbread cookies courtesy of our friends at Ninth Street Bakery, and recurring donations of any amount will receive a gift set from Bright Black Candles.

For those looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, all donations of $150 or more will receive a very special MoDH tote bag made from our own exhibit banners.

To celebrate the past year and commemorate our own history, we asked our MoDH team to share their favorite memories and pictures from 2022. This is a collage for our entire MoDH family, and we welcome you to share your own photos and recollections to make this a true community collaboration. Thank you for helping us write this chapter of the MoDH story!

Our Best Moments of 2022

• Volunteer Night at the Durham Bulls Game was a fun way to show appreciation to the people who donate so much of their time to the MoDH. 
• Rotating the Faces of Durham banners is always exciting, as they are the first thing that people see when they pull up to or walk past the MoDH. 
• The dedications of the Larry Stogner History Grove over Memorial Day weekend and the John Hope Franklin History Grove just after Labor Day helped us continue to be a true “Museum Beyond Walls”. 
• It was amazing to see the McKissick exhibit radiating in the sunlight of the NCCU Turner Law Building and seeing students read it, many learning for the first time the story of how the law school got its accreditation. 
• The Ernie Barnes event featuring the conversation with Deidre Barnes at the Durham Arts Council had a captivated audience and was touching to experience. 
• Listening to Asian style drumming at Juju during the dining series, as the sun set on a beautiful summer evening, was a very memorable moment.
• It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to attend the opening of the McKissick exhibit at the MoDH and to share every moment with its curator, Michelle Needham.
• Enjoying Movie Night in Durham Central Park with over 100 of our MoDH friends, on a perfect summer evening, was unforgettable.
• Hearing Jeanette Shaffer Collins speak at the opening of Dining Out in Durham brought back a lot of memories. She will always be part of the MoDH family!

Wishing you and your families a very happy and healthy New Year!

Patrick, Michelle, Clay, Rebecca, Cindy, and the MoDH Board