We Built This Exhibition: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina

Now on view at Research Triangle Park | 700 Park Offices Drive

Many of North Carolina’s most treasured buildings were designed and built by Black craftsmen, builders and architects, yet their stories have often gone untold.

We Built This, a traveling exhibition by Preservation North Carolina brings these stories to light. Through a series of profiles, the exhibit highlights the skill, innovation and lasting impact of African American builders who helped shape the state’s historic landscape across generations.

Spanning more than three centuries, the exhibition connects past and present, from slavery and Reconstruction to the growth of Black institutions, businesses and civic life, offering a fuller understanding of the places we inhabit today.

Why RTP
Hosting We Built This invites reflection on the people and contributions that have shaped our built environment, and creates space for learning, dialogue and a more inclusive view of North Carolina’s history.

Plan your visit
Free and open to the public
Weekdays, April 7 – June 12
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Stop by anytime to explore at your own pace and experience the stories behind the spaces we share.

For more information about the exhibit, visit www.presnc.org/experience/we-built-this/, or Julianne Patterson at jpatterson@preservationdurham.org or 919-682-3036.

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