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05/10/2022 11:26 am

Old photo image of Blacks in a store

Raleigh’s Black History and Heritage: 1945-1975

The history and heritage behind Raleigh’s black architects, builders, and buildings.

The Raleigh Historic Development Commission is preparing to conduct an architectural survey to identify places important to Black History and Heritage in Raleigh. The report will focus on the years between 1945 to 1975 and will include a list of significant historic places (both existing and lost), with a special focus on churches, entertainment venues, the Civil Rights movement, Black architects and builders, and the Biltmore Hills neighborhood. Help us identify these places by participating in our survey. Finally, it will recommend buildings and sites that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

What is an architectural survey?

  • Primarily a tool used to form a comprehensive understanding of a community’s heritage and to develop an inventory of important historic resources.
  • Provides a list of the types, styles, and features of each historic resource present in the study area.
  • Can also include an analysis of cultural landscape resources such as parks, public spaces, roads, cemeteries, and natural resources present in the community.

Project Details

 
Type:
Historic Preservation
Date Range:
-
Budget:
40,000
Project Lead:
Tania Georgiou Tully
Contractors:
Mary Ruffin Hanbury

Contact

 

historicpreservation@raleighnc.gov
919-832-7238

Lead Department:
Planning and Development
Service Unit:
Historic Preservation

Subscribe

 

Scope

  • Document research.
  • Community meeting to introduce the project.
  • Ten oral history interviews.
  • More community engagement opportunities TBD.
  • Draft report review by the Raleigh Historic Development Commission.
  • Community meeting to share the results of the study.

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 National Register designation. Broad citywide updates to the architectural survey and targeted context studies identify properties. Previous context reports prepared include Kit Homes and the Method Community. 

In 2021, RHDC staff submitted a grant request to fund an architectural survey to expand the City’s knowledge of Black architectural and cultural resources. This project follows a previous study, conducted in the late 1980s that resulted in the publication of Culture Town: Life in Raleigh's African American Communities. The overall project budget is $40,000. The grant funding received is $20,000. The remaining funds are from the Planning and Development budget targeted for historic reports and surveys. A consultant was hired in the winter of 2021.