The history of Durham can be traced to 1701, when the Eno and Occoneechi tribes inhabited the area. The beauty of Durham's territory was chronicled by English explorer John Lawson who described it as "the flower of the Carolinas." The community of Durham Station, which suffered stunted growth before the Civil War, experienced rapid growth in the aftermath of the war. Much of the area's growth was attributed to the newly established and thriving tobacco industry. Veterans returned home from the war with enormous interest in obtaining more of the tobacco they had sampled in North Carolina. The rapid growth of the Durham Station's population led to the station becoming a town, and it was incorporated on April 10, 1869, by the North Carolina General Assembly. It was named after the man on whose land the station was built, Dr. Bartlett Durham. At inception, Durham was situated in Orange County but was transferred to Durham County in 1911. The transfer was due to the enormous time it took to travel to faraway county seat Hillsborough. The Washington Duke's W. Duke & Sons Tobacco Company and Bull Durham Tobacco Company were the driving force of the city of Durham's economy throughout the 19th century.

Visit Parks
Durham's natural beauty is undeniable, and you only need to have a tour of the city's numerous parks to understand that it's the dream home of nature lovers. The American Tobacco Trail in the Research Triangle region is a 22-mile railway corridor refurbished and converted into a paved greenway perfect for walking, hiking, running, and biking. Explore 30 miles of trail just 10 minutes from town at Eno River State Park. Cool off or play pickleball on the playground at Forest Hills. You can also check out popular biking trails or over 300 campsites at the Falls Lake State Recreational Area. No matter your definition of fun, Bull City's parks have something that will work for you.

⁠Checkout The Sarah P. Duke Gardens
The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a major tourist attraction in Bull city. The garden is home to 55 acres of specialized gardens which attract over 600,000 visitors annually. Trolley and walking tours are offered across the five miles of pathways in the garden. Enjoy the fish pool and terrace gardens in the original Historic Gardens. Check out the H. L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to closely look at its carnivorous plant collection or locate the bird viewing shelter in the rolling woodlands.

Head to the Virtue Peace Pond to see its extensive collection of lotuses, marginal water plants, and tropical water lilies. Below the pond is a naturally wet area that houses dragonflies, butterflies, and plants. Visit the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden to learn more about plants that provide humans, birds, and insects with shelter and food.

Attend a Bull City Festival
Durham loves celebrating, and the city has numerous festivals lined up all year long to keep the celebrations going. The city has different festivals to celebrate almost everything, ranging from film to art to beauty pageants. Attend the Bull City Ramble rally organized by Ton Up NC to see vintage scooters and motorcycles, or you can check out the live-action thrill show with acrobatic riding on a risky vertical wall known as the Wall of Death. Don't miss the Hayti Heritage Film Festival, which features a collection of old and new black movies, including Freed, Unapologetic, and A Dream for Sale.

Interested in experiencing Durham's pageantry? Look out for the Beaver Queen Pagent, which usually takes place in the first week of June. Want to learn more about the city's history and culture? Don't miss the annual Enofest festival to enjoy live events dedicated to protecting the cultural and historical resources of the Eno River Basin.