Museum of Durham History

What’s buried under Duke Hospital? Where did Madonna take early dance lessons? Why is Walltown called Walltown? Which famous songwriter was born on a kitchen table behind Monuts? Where was the West Durham airport? Why wasn’t Cameron Indoor Stadium built on Ninth Street? Where was Kevin Costner spotted in his boxer shorts, near East Campus? What’s a Pinhooker? Why do neighborhoods change so quickly in Durham?

2.5-mile loop starts in a mill village where we’ll see an old liquor house, Buck Dean’s bungalow, a Sears House and a quiet urban garden in Old West Durham. We’ll then continue into Watts-Hillandale and walk past Oval Park and the old Watts Hospital. We’ll go down a hidden alley and see where a songwriter for Lou Rawls and Norah Jones was born.

We’ll also talk about the ridge, between the Neuse and Cape Fear basins, that forms the backbone of our town. We might even get into current events in the Bull City and talk about all this development around here. We’ll head over to Walltown and hear about George Wall and Duke’s original plans to build here.

Then we’ll see Richard Nixon’s house in Trinity Heights and talk about the homes of Duke’s famous faculty and coaches on Buchanan — including John Spencer Bassett, Wallace Wade and Cap Card (father of Duke basketball). After hearing about Trinity Park, we’ll cross East Campus, over to Ninth Street, past Erwin Cotton Mills and back to where we started.

Local street historian John Schelp will narrate along the way. No need to register. Parking is available on streets near Ninth & Green. (Bike racks are also nearby.) Optional post-hike beverages, further conversation at Dain’s Place (754 9th Street).

Co-sponsored by Museum of Durham History, Sierra Club, Open Durham and the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association. Rain or shine.