American Tobacco Company Manufacturing Plant
Also known as: W.T. Blackwell Company Tobacco; Bull Durham
Why it's listed
Occupying one long block in downtown Durham, this tobacco manufacturing complex shows about eighty years of industrial building in a single streetscape. At its north end stands the Italianate W. T. Blackwell & Company Factory, begun in 1874 for the makers of Bull Durham smoking tobacco. Toward the middle are warehouses and factories from about 1900 to 1907, built by the American Tobacco Company in slow-burn construction with Romanesque Revival brickwork such as dogtooth courses, machicolation and corbelling. The south end holds large Moderne factories from 1939, 1946 and 1953-54, with concrete frames and brick curtain walls. A power plant with a Lucky Strike chimney and a painted water tower add to the skyline. The complex records the growth of Blackwell and Company, the American Tobacco Company trust formed by James B. Duke, and the reorganized company after 1911. Fourteen resources contribute to the district, which is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The plant is argued to represent the history of Durham's tobacco industry, from W. T. Blackwell & Company and its Bull Durham brand through the American Tobacco Company trust and the reorganized company after 1911. It is also significant architecturally, since its buildings show industrial design from the Italianate 1870s through Romanesque Revival warehouses to Moderne factories of the 1930s to 1950s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001163, listed September 29, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by W. Pettigrew St., Blackwell St., Willard St. and Carr St., Durham |
|---|---|
| County | Durham County |
| Listed | September 29, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001163 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1874-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Romanesque Revival, Moderne, No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the interior of Hill Warehouse is structurally deteriorated though its exterior walls are sound. |
| Acreage | 14.6 |
| Coordinates | 35.99525, -78.90459 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001163.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16827951
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.