Set amongst the backdrop of our Capitol, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts has stood as a historic and cultural focal point in Downtown Raleigh since 1932. It has played host to Broadway classics, rock legends and major political figures while maintaining an emphasis on education of the arts and artists housed within our own community. With four separate event spaces available, the breadth and depth of events past, present and future has made this Raleigh’s Premier Arts Venue.
The Governor's Palace was built upon this site, and it was the first official home for the governor in Raleigh after the city became the capital of North Carolina.
It housed the leaders and their families until April of 1865, when General William Tecumseh Sherman seized it as the Union troops reached Raleigh during the Civil War.
In 1876, the building was sold to the City of Raleigh. On August 1 of the same year, the Centinnial School opened in the old Governor's Palace, with 240 students. It was the second public school in North Carolina.
On October 24, 1930, City Auditorium burnt down, leaving the City of Raleigh without a municipal complex. The city risked losing its status as the capital of North Carolina if a new auditorium was not completed quickly.
Funding was approved for a new auditorium to be built, and the cornerstone for Memorial Auditorium was laid on January 19, 1932.
On August 14 of the same year, it was officially opened to the public for the first time. An all-night dance party followed a dedication ceremony.
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium went through a $10.5 million dollar renovation that updated the building, including the addition of the outer glass lobby and chandeliers.
Maintaining the look and feel of the original exterior was of utmost importance, and the doric columns were replicated with the addition of the outer lobby. The original columns still stand in between the inner and outer lobbies of Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.
A Performing Arts Center was born when the plans were made for Meymandi Concert Hall and A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater, two additional theaters on either side of Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. These halls could accommodate the types of performances that the original auditorium could not.
Meymandi Concert Hall was designed for improved sound for the North Carolina Symphony, while Fletcher Opera Theater was created for a more intimate setting for opera and ballet performances. Kennedy Theatre was born from an old rehearsal space in the back of the original auditorium and transformed to hold experimental and nontraditional black box performances.
Look for these icons on our socials to learn about specific parts of our venue's history. Read testimonials from community members, look back on newspaper clippings detailing the shows hosted here, discover fun facts, witness renovations, and pay homage to an event that happened 50 years ago - to the day! Visit our Instagram to see more.
We’re working on an intriguing new project, digging deep into the history of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Many may not know that before Raleigh Memorial Auditorium was built in the early 1930s, this site was once the home to the Governor’s Palace and later the Centennial School. We’re excited for all the ways we’re going to be able to share this site’s history, and how it’s been pivotal to the City of Raleigh for decades. But first…we need your help!
Did you attend a dance at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium? Have you been coming to see the North Carolina Symphony for decades? We would love for you to take the below survey to tell us about your experiences and share your photos from over the years.
