Neighborhoods are more than a mere collection of homes and businesses. They are communities where people experience the world through their connections with neighbors. The lives both lived and lost weave a tapestry over time creates a rich culture, identity, and history.
Raleigh’s Fourth Ward neighborhood was one of these distinctive places. Named for its political voting district, the Fourth Ward was established by newly freed people immediately following the Civil War, lasting until it was ultimately destroyed by urban renewal in the 1970s.
Photo: Photos include recent donations from former residents of the Fourth Ward.
This exhibit was developed in a collaboration between the City of Raleigh Museum and graduate students at North Carolina State University as part of the Fourth Ward Oral History Project. It is our hope that this exhibit offers a starting point in documenting and preserving the neighborhood's history.
Photo: South downtown Raleigh is seen c. 1954. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium can be seen near center of frame.
From the Conservation and Development Photograph File, State Archives; Raleigh, NC.
This exhibit is located at the Northern Hall of the Betty Ray McCain Art Gallery (nestled within the Meymandi Concert Hall) and can be viewed during all public performances at the Martin Marietta Center as well as the first Thursday of each month from 11am-2pm.
Group tours are also available based on availability. Please contact us for more info and to request.
The Fourth Ward Entertainment District was created to honor the unique role the people of Raleigh’s Fourth Ward played in making the arts and culture of Raleigh what they are today. Memorial Auditorium in the Fourth Ward hosted many notable music acts including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and James Brown among others. The creation of this district is an acknowledgement of the fact that long before there was a Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, the residents and venues of the Fourth Ward were shaping the arts and culture of Raleigh.
Photo Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina
Photo Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina
Photos include recent donations from former residents of the Fourth Ward
Photo Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina
Photos include recent donations from former residents of the Fourth Ward
Photo Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina
Photos include recent donations from former residents of the Fourth Ward
Photos include recent donations from former residents of the Fourth Ward
Photo Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina