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Show Your Love for Durham in Pictures

Share photos with #loveDURM and attend party Feb. 10 at Museum of Durham History

Museum of Durham History hosts #loveDURM photo contest.
Museum of Durham History hosts #loveDURM photo contest.

If you could express your love of Durham in a photograph, what image would you share?

Through Feb. 8, Durham residents and Duke community members are invited to share what they adore about Durham as part of the Museum of Durham History’s #loveDURM photo contest.

Participating is easy: Take a photo of something (or someone) that defines Durham for you. The only rule is that the photo depicts something (or someone) within the city or county of Durham. Post photos on social media with #loveDURM, and share as many pictures as you like.

The contest culminates in a party at the Museum of Durham History from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 10. As many photos as possible will be displayed at the museum during the event. There will be Valentine’s Day-themed prizes for the best photos as decided by judges.

“It’s not just a fun contest,” said Matt Lardie, who runs the School of Home blog and is partnering with the museum on the event. “It’s a way to create a community curated exhibit of why we love Durham.”

Lardie, who came up with the idea for the contest, said some of this affinity is tied to Duke.

“Durham and Duke have grown up together,” Lardie said. “When I first moved to Durham, I lived near Duke. I would stroll through Duke Gardens in the springtime. I would walk my dog on the West Campus. I would go to Duke Chapel, it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Sam Miglarese, director of community engagement with Duke’s Durham & Regional Affairs, said Duke and Durham are closely connected and important to each other. The Durham & Regional Affairs office has worked to expand and deepen partnerships with communities and created the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership to help improve quality of life and public education in Durham.

The Durham & Regional Affairs office is one of the financial sponsors and Duke University Stores is donating prizes. “The history of Durham is rooted in the affection and love its residents have for their city,” Miglarese said. “We want to support that. We want to help the diversity of Durham document their love for the city and for one another.”

Some of the most iconic images of Durham that exist feature Duke in the backdrop with scenery ranging from oak tree canopies lining nearby neighborhoods to Cameron Crazies on game day.

“So many people are a part of the Duke community and a part of the Durham family,” said Patrick Mucklow, director of operations for the Museum of Durham History. “Durham treats itself more like family than a city.”

How to Participate:

  • Take a photo of something (or someone) that defines Durham for you. The only rule is that the photo depicts something (or someone) within the city or county of Durham.
  • Share the photo on Instagram or Twitter using #loveDURM, post to the #loveDURM Facebook page, or submit your photo to the #loveDURM Tumblr blog.
  • Take and share as many photos as you like through Feb. 8.