Mission:

Preservation Durham’s mission is to protect Durham’s historic assets through action, advocacy and education.

Values:

Respect: We believe in accountability, transparency, and responsiveness among Preservation Durham staff, the board, our members, and all those with whom we interact. The effectiveness of our organization depends on the empowerment and equity of all in the Durham community.

Diversity: We believe that the most vibrant communities are well integrated culturally and economically. Historic buildings and neighborhoods provide the greatest variety of architectural style, size, and affordability, bringing together a wide cross-section of businesses, families, and individuals of all ages, occupations, and ethnicities.

Uniqueness: We recognize Durham has a unique multicultural history and a distinctive building stock (commercial, industrial, large and small) that represents a varied community. We believe we need to protect and preserve important parts of this history to ensure Durham retains its character.

Sustainability: We believe that preservation of our historic assets is a method of responsible stewardship of resources that maximizes the value of previous investments, reduces negative environmental impact and supports sustainable growth by utilizing existing infrastructure within the urban core.

Inclusivity: We believe that a well-informed and actively involved citizenry is crucial to the vitality of every community. Historic preservation requires an exceptional level of community awareness and political will, and including a range of voices in historic areas fosters that sense of belonging.

PRESERVATION DURHAM WORKING TO PRESERVE DURHAM'S HISTORY

Preservation Durham was founded in 1974 as The Historic Preservation Society of Durham and has since achieved a regional reputation as one of North Carolina's outstanding historic preservation non-profits. Preservation Durham's mission is to preserve the history, architecture, and cultural heritage of Durham and Durham County and to serve as an institution for the education of citizens through the promotion and appreciation of this heritage.

As a result of Preservation Durham's efforts, Durham has developed a stronger sense of its heritage and many significant preservation initiatives have come to fruition.