The origin of Durham’s nickname, the “Bull City,” has nothing to do with cattle! John Green of the Blackwell Tobacco Company named his product “Bull” Durham Tobacco after Colman’s Mustard, which used a bull in its logo and which Green mistakenly thought was produced in Durham, England. By the time James B. Duke of the American Tobacco Company purchased the Blackwell Tobacco Company in 1898, Bull Durham was the most famous trademark in the world. It sparked such popular phrases as “bullpen” (from a Bull Durham ad painted behind the Yankees’ dugout) and “shooting the bull” (most likely from chewing tobacco). The famous bull’s image was painted all over the world, including on the Great Pyramid of Egypt! Duke put cigarette cards, predecessors of modern baseball cards, into each pack of tobacco. By the 1930’s they were immensely popular, and today they are much sought-after collectors’ items. Coincidentally, modern Fleer Skybox International trading cards are produced in Durham today.

If you were a history professor, you'd have a field day here. The fact is, Durham has been a part of some pretty amazing events over the years. And you can experience them first hand yourself. Durham's golf courses have been home to national and professional championships. And seven of them are public or semi-private. You can find your game right here.

From historic to contemporary, there are a lot of great places to watch music, theater, film and dance in Durham. And there are performances year 'round to delight the entire family. There's also history, sports, arts, culture, ethnic diversity and nationally-acclaimed restaurants. In fact, Durham has more than 300 wonderful restaurants. And at least 17 of those restaurants have received special recognition in the regional and national press. Durham is also home to more than 100 working artists, 43 museums and galleries and 74 outdoor sculptures and murals.