LGBTQIA+ Historic Context Study

The LGBTQIA+ Historic Context Study draft report is available to read. The public comment period is now closed. Thank you for your interest in this project. 

The final report will be available in early 2025. Phase II of this project began in July 2024 with a community kickoff meeting. Past meeting summaries and slides are available.

The City of Raleigh, on behalf of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC), has hired a consultant to prepare a historic context statement. The report will identify places important to LGBTQIA+ history and culture in Raleigh and provide criteria for evaluating future sites for either traditional historic designation or alternative forms of non-regulatory recognition.

This project is a first step to document and recognize historic places important to Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ community. It will not be a comprehensive LGBTQIA+ history of Raleigh or of North Carolina. The final report will include a brief history of Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ communities, up to 10 oral history interviews, a list of significant historic places (both existing and lost), documentation of up to 20 important places, and will recommend sites and topics for future research.

Thanks to those who have followed the progress of Phase I, attended the community meetings, and participated in online surveys. Led by MdM Historical Consultants, Phase II will build on the preliminary research and historic places roster developed during Phase I and will deliver a final report for public use at the end of the year.

Please visit the Email Alerts page to sign up to receive alerts from the RHDC when future Phase II community meetings are scheduled.

Project Details

Type:: Historic Preservation
Date Range:: July 1, 2024 - March 1, 2025
Budget:: $29,000
Project Lead:: Erin Morton Pugh, Senior Preservation Planner
Contractors:: MdM Historical Consultants

Phase II

Community meeting to introduce consultant and provide project updates. (Completed July 31, 2024)
Phase I material review and additional document research. (Completed Summer 2024)
Draft report posted for public comment. (Completed October 27, 2024)
Draft report reviewed by the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC). (Completed October 16, 2024)
Final community meeting to share results of the study and discuss next steps for implementation. (Anticipated early 2025)
Final report adopted by the RHDC and provided to City Council. (Anticipated early 2025)

Phase I

Final project contract executed. (Completed September 27, 2021)
Community meeting to introduce the project. (Completed virtually on October 14, 2021 & in person on June 22, 2022)
Document research. (Completed)
Conduct 8 oral history interviews. (Completed)
Community meeting to provide project updates. (Completed October 19, 2022)
Draft report sections and roster of historic places provided to City staff. (Completed January 2024)

Background

Part of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission’s (RHDC) mission is to identify and recommend properties and neighborhoods for historic designation. This includes Raleigh Historic Landmarks, Raleigh Historic Overlay Districts, and listing in the National Register of Historic Places. City staff identifies previously unknown properties with broad updates to the citywide architectural survey records and by using more targeted theme context studies. Previous context reports prepared include Kit Homes, Architect Leif Valand, and the Method Community.

In response to a citizen request, the RHDC reviewed existing historic designations and found that the LGBTQIA+ community lacks representation. There are currently no properties related to Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ history listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, there is not a developed context for evaluating potential LGBTQIA+ historic resources for official recognition.

What is a Historic Context Study?

A method of organizing or grouping information about historic properties that share a common theme, place, and/or time.
Identifies places important to a specific community, architect, or cultural event.
Includes a list of known significant historic places (both existing and lost) and a short history to help fit those places in the larger context.
Recommends buildings and sites that are eligible for historic designation or other forms of recognition.
Provides a way to evaluate places discovered later.