Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join

How Many Countries Have You Visited?

Track every country you've been to and earn passport stamps in the Atlas Obscura app.

Track your countries

How Many U.S. States Can You Check Off?

Mark each state you've visited to reveal your total.

Start Your Map!

It’s Spooky Season.

Explore strange places, curious stories, and eerie events around the world, online and in person.

Explore Spooky Season
All the United States North Carolina Durham

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Durham

7 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Durham, North Carolina

Updated June 2, 2025
Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Stories

Unusual Attractions in Durham

Duke Lemur Center

Durham, North Carolina

Duke Lemur Center

This research center for rare prosimians is studying how they sleep to help prolong human life.

Durham, North Carolina

Durham's Hidden Dinosaur

Don't be surprised if you see a long-necked dinosaur peeking out from among the trees in Northgate Park.
Bennett Place.

Durham, North Carolina

Bennett Place

The scene of the largest surrender of Confederate troops at the end of the American Civil War.
Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

11 foot 8

Durham, North Carolina

The Can Opener

This too-low North Carolina railroad trestle is still a notorious big rig executioner.
Horns on the ceiling.

Durham, North Carolina

V & E Simonetti Historic Tuba Collection

The humble horn finally finds a place in the sun.
Six bronze sculptures now line Parrish Street, “tracing and interpreting its historic significance via three themes: Tobacco and E.J. Parrish (1865-1890), Visionary Leadership in the New South (1890-1915), and A Black Capital for the World to See (1915-1945).”

Durham, North Carolina

Black Wall Street Durham

Born from segregation and exclusion, Durham’s Black Wall Street is now a living reminder of the city’s past
Tobacco museum.

Durham, North Carolina

Duke Homestead

The birthplace of a tobacco empire.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Durham, North Carolina

Museums 4
Monkeys 1
Science 1
Architecture 1
Railroads 1
Collections 1
Parks 1
Music 1
Military History 1
Animals 1
Sculptures 1
Architectural Oddities 1
War History 1
Fossils 1
Civil War 1
Military 1
Tobacco 1
Homes 1
Dinosaurs 1
Niche Museums 1

Durham Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. B Beth profile photo
    Beth
    1
  2. ddmaxfield profile photo
    ddmaxfield
    1
  3. H heypeggy profile photo
    heypeggy
    1
  4. Z zride1905 profile photo
    zride1905
    1
  5. KatKamakura profile photo
    KatKamakura
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Durham.

Places Edited

  1. M michelle21vuong profile photo
    michelle21vuong
    2
  2. M Martin profile photo
    Martin
    2
  3. Motorcat profile photo
    Motorcat
    1
  4. treytatum profile photo
    treytatum
    1
  5. kuranes profile photo
    kuranes
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. dylanjamesyoung profile photo
    dylanjamesyoung
    7
  2. N nkda2001 3bf54147 profile photo
    nkda2001 3bf54147
    7
  3. C crtriplett profile photo
    crtriplett
    7
  4. graveyardapparition profile photo
    graveyardapparition
    7
  5. G Golden Disc NYC profile photo
    Golden Disc NYC
    6
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Durham.

Recent Durham Activity

  • S suehle profile photo

    suehle

    wants to go to Duke Lemur Center

  • S suehle profile photo

    suehle

    wants to go to Durham's Hidden Dinosaur

  • D davhcoe profile photo

    davhcoe

    has been to The Can Opener

  • D davhcoe profile photo

    davhcoe

    has been to Black Wall Street Durham

  • GingerSnapz0 profile photo

    GingerSnapz0

    wants to go to V & E Simonetti Historic Tuba Collection

Stories About Durham

Prehistoric creatures roam the grounds of the Dinosaur House.

Roadside Dinosaurs: An American Love Story

Who’s responsible for the dinosaur sculptures scattered across the United States? Our reporters set out to find the answer.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
June 2, 2025
April’s pollenpocalypse hanging over the city of Durham, North Carolina.

'Botanical Sexism' Could Be Behind Your Seasonal Allergies

More diversity in city trees would probably be a good thing.
by Sabrina Imbler, Atlas Obscura
May 17, 2019
The Can Opener takes another victim.

5 Spectacular Transportation Failures

Infrastructure, you had one job...
by Meg Neal, Atlas Obscura
February 20, 2017
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.