Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum
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Quality Inn & Suites Durham. Exceptional accommodations and excellent service are the hallmark of the Quality Inn & Suites in Durham, North Carolina, the birthplace of the American Tobacco Company. A convenient location is also a prominent feature. The hospitable hotel is close to Duke University along with many attractions such the Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum and Brightleaf Square, located in the historic tobacco district. [Top]
Brightleaf Square. A vestige of Durham’s cigarette-producing roots, Brightleaf Square on the fringe of downtown Durham is a renovated tobacco warehouse with leftover cobblestone walks and polished hardwood floors. Daytime attracts busy professionals eager to hit the square for a light lunch and some quick special occasion shopping. Dinnertime attracts a more relaxed crowd-often Duke University students-seeking a gourmet meal at one of the Square’s trendy restaurants. For more information, visit www.historicbrightleaf.com [Top]
History of Durham, North Carolina Tobacco. 1865, Washington Duke of North Carolina was released from Libby Prison, having been captured during the Confederate army’s retreat from Richmond. A federal soldier gave him 50 cents for his five dollar Confederate note and Duke set off on a 137-mile journey for home, a 300-acre farm just north of Durham. There was little left of the farm except for a small amount of Bright leaf tobacco. Duke subsequently sold some of his land and became a tobacco farmer.
Eventually, Duke & Sons found itself in tight competition with the Genuine “Bull” Durham Tobacco Factory. His son, James Buchanan “Buck” Duke, decided the company could generate much needed profit for the relatively small but growing cigarette market. He succeeded so well that in 1890 his four biggest rivals joined him and he became president of a new firm-The American Tobacco Company.
In subsequent years, American Tobacco became the biggest tobacco company in the world with successful products such as the unique, “toasted” tobacco in the Lucky Strike brand. Pall Mall and Tareyton also ranked among their successes. American even enjoyed the help of celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny in its promotional efforts. In the early 1890's, Washington Duke left the business for his sons to handle while he became involved with local affairs. He succeeded in bringing Trinity College to Durham. Through the continued generosity of the Duke family, the school soon became the largest endowed college in the Southeast and, in 1924, Trinity College became Duke University
For more information, visit www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com [Top]
Eventually, Duke & Sons found itself in tight competition with the Genuine “Bull” Durham Tobacco Factory. His son, James Buchanan “Buck” Duke, decided the company could generate much needed profit for the relatively small but growing cigarette market. He succeeded so well that in 1890 his four biggest rivals joined him and he became president of a new firm-The American Tobacco Company.
In subsequent years, American Tobacco became the biggest tobacco company in the world with successful products such as the unique, “toasted” tobacco in the Lucky Strike brand. Pall Mall and Tareyton also ranked among their successes. American even enjoyed the help of celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny in its promotional efforts. In the early 1890's, Washington Duke left the business for his sons to handle while he became involved with local affairs. He succeeded in bringing Trinity College to Durham. Through the continued generosity of the Duke family, the school soon became the largest endowed college in the Southeast and, in 1924, Trinity College became Duke University
For more information, visit www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com [Top]
Quality Inn & Suites - Durham, NC
3710 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-382-3388 Fax: 919-382-9298
Email: psambath@duke85.com
