Durham North Carolina History

Durham is thought to be the site of an ancient Native American village named Adshusheer. The Great Indian Trading Path is traced through Durham, and Native Americans helped to mold Durham by establishing settlement sites and transportation routes.

In 1701, Durham’s beauty was chronicled by the explorer John Lawson. During the mid-1700’s, Scots, Irish, and English colonists settled on land granted by King Charles I, for whom the Carolinas are named. In 1849, Dr. Bartlett Durham, provided land for a railroad station, and the city is named after him.

After the ceasefire in Durham, Yankee and Rebel troops celebrated together and discovered Brightleaf tobacco—with a taste that led to the ultimate success of Washington Duke and his family. They developed one of the world’s largest corporations including American Tobacco, Liggett & Meyers, R.J. Reynolds, and P. Lorillard.