Living at The Willow at 600 N Roxboro Street places you at the epicenter of Durham’s architectural evolution. While the Durham Performing Arts Center and American Tobacco Campus draw deserved attention, the real treasures lie in the lesser-known buildings that tell the deeper story of Bull City’s transformation from tobacco town to innovation hub. Lace up your walking shoes—we’re embarking on a curated architectural journey that begins right at your doorstep.
Starting Point: The Cleveland-Holloway Legacy
Before venturing out, appreciate your immediate surroundings. The Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood showcases some of Durham’s finest Victorian and Craftsman homes, many dating to the 1920s. From The Willow’s elevated balconies, you can spot the distinctive rooflines and detailed woodwork that earned this area recognition as architecturally significant.
Walk south on Roxboro and turn east on Liberty Street. Here, modest mill houses sit alongside grander Queen Anne Victorians—a testament to Durham’s historically diverse neighborhoods. Notice the decorative shingles, wraparound porches, and original stained glass windows that survived urban renewal.
The Durham Armory: Art Deco Surprise (0.4 miles)
Head west to Foster Street and discover the Durham Armory, a 1930s Art Deco gem that many residents pass without a second glance. The building’s geometric façade, stylized eagles, and stepped roofline epitomize Depression-era civic architecture. The limestone details and bronze fixtures remain remarkably intact. Early morning light creates dramatic shadows across the building’s angular features—photographers from The Willow should note this golden hour opportunity.
The Venable Tobacco Company Building: Industrial Elegance (0.6 miles)
Continue to Jackson Street to find the former Venable Tobacco Company building. This 1920s industrial structure showcases the sophisticated factory architecture that defined Durham’s golden age. Note the corbelled cornices, arched windows, and carefully proportioned brick patterns. Unlike the restored warehouses at American Tobacco, this building maintains its authentic patina—a photographer’s dream for capturing Durham’s layered history.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church: Gothic Revival Treasure (0.8 miles)
Venture to Queen Street to discover St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, built in 1907. This Gothic Revival structure features local stone and exceptional craftsmanship often overshadowed by Duke Chapel. The pointed arch windows, buttresses, and bell tower create classic Gothic proportions on an intimate scale. The surrounding cemetery offers peaceful contemplation and historic grave markers dating to Durham’s founding families.
The Geer Building: Modernist Statement (0.9 miles)
Head toward downtown to encounter the former Duke Power building on Morgan Street, now known as the Geer Building. This 1960s Modernist structure represents Durham’s mid-century ambitions with its clean lines, ribbon windows, and confident horizontality. The recent thoughtful renovation preserved period details while adapting for contemporary use—a perfect metaphor for Durham’s evolution.
Hidden Alley Architecture: Fowler Building Details (1.0 miles)
Duck into the alley behind Main Street between Roxboro and Mangum. Here, the backs of buildings reveal architectural secrets invisible from main thoroughfares. The Fowler Building’s rear façade showcases ghost signs from long-closed businesses, original fire escapes, and brick patterns that tell construction timelines. These service alleys, now being transformed into pedestrian passages, offer intimate architectural encounters.
The Trust Building: Beaux-Arts Banking (1.1 miles)
At Main and Corcoran Streets stands the Trust Building, Durham’s 1905 homage to Beaux-Arts grandeur. The rusticated base, classical columns, and elaborate cornice speak to early Durham’s banking ambitions. Original bronze hardware, marble wainscoting, and mosaic floor tiles survive inside. The building’s scale—impressive yet approachable—captures Durham’s character perfectly.
Emmanuel AME Church: Carpenter Gothic Gem (1.2 miles)
Detour to Cleveland Street for Emmanuel AME Church, an 1890s Carpenter Gothic church that anchored Durham’s historic Black business district. The decorative bargeboard, pointed arch windows, and wooden buttresses showcase exceptional craftsmanship. This structure survived urban renewal that claimed much of historic Hayti, making it architecturally and culturally precious.
The Hill Building: Chicago School Influence (1.3 miles)
Return toward downtown to discover the Hill Building on Parrish Street. This 1920s commercial structure shows Chicago School influence with its tripartite façade, large windows, and minimal ornamentation. The building housed Durham’s first elevator—revolutionary technology that enabled vertical growth. Original terrazzo floors and brass fixtures remain, connecting contemporary occupants to Durham’s commercial heritage.
The Criterion Theater Façade: Streamline Moderne Survivor (1.4 miles)
On Morgan Street, find remnants of the Criterion Theater’s Streamline Moderne façade. Though the theater closed decades ago, architectural elements survive—curved corners, speed lines, and porthole windows that captured 1940s optimism. This fragment, easily missed, represents Durham’s mid-century entertainment architecture.
Photography Tips from The Willow
Your elevated perspective at The Willow offers unique photographic opportunities. Document Durham’s architectural layers from your balcony throughout the day. Morning light illuminates east-facing Victorian façades, while sunset creates dramatic silhouettes of downtown’s varied rooflines.
Capture seasonal changes: spring’s dogwood blossoms framing historic structures, summer’s green canopy partially concealing architectural details, autumn’s cleared trees revealing hidden buildings, winter’s bare branches creating architectural drawings against the sky.
Joining Durham’s Architecture Community
Connect with Durham Architecture Tours for monthly guided walks exploring different themes and neighborhoods. The Preservation Durham website offers downloadable maps for self-guided exploration. Consider joining the Durham Historical Society for deeper dives into architectural history and access to typically closed buildings during special events.
Creating Your Own Architecture Library
Start documenting your discoveries. Create a photo journal of architectural details—door hardware, decorative brickwork, window patterns. Many Willow residents have become amateur architectural historians, contributing to Durham’s collective memory through social media and community archives.
Living at The Willow positions you perfectly for architectural exploration. These hidden gems, all within a 20-minute walk, offer daily discovery opportunities. Each building tells part of Durham’s story—from tobacco wealth to civil rights struggles to contemporary renaissance. Your morning jog becomes an architectural education; your evening stroll transforms into a journey through time.
As Durham continues evolving, these architectural treasures ground us in place and history. From The Willow’s modern elegance, you connect with generations of Durham builders who shaped this remarkable city. Every walk from your doorstep becomes an opportunity to discover another chapter in Durham’s architectural narrative.
Schedule your tour of The Willow today and begin your own architectural journey through one of North Carolina’s most architecturally diverse cities.