Durham, NC: The American Tobacco Campus

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In Search of the American Dream: Puff on a Cigarette

Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

We pick up where we left off, at the Lucky Strike tower. Americans formerly aspired to look sexy smoking cigarettes, the way our movie stars did.  A huge portion of Americans used to smoke.

I read recently that, because of effective anti-smoking campaigns, and because the movie industry helped by drastically reducing the amount of smoking in scripts, the prevalence of teenage tobacco smoking is at an all-time low, less than 15%.

This was a powerful industry at one time, and you can sense it in the height of the tower, the sprawl of the factory buildings.

Ambience added with strings of lights.

Think of all the North Carolina workers who used to spend their effort behind these long windows.

On top: the sign for the American Tobacco Campus. Below, a very small plaque.

The small plaque says, "This is a smoke-free environment." Quite ironic, isn't it?

Another view of the Lucky Strike tower, a symbol of the way tobacco dominated so many lives, and so many painful deaths.

Cafe chairs next to the water feature that runs through the campus.

A croc in the water feature.

With these big windows, it's probably a pleasant place to work inside.

A playful tap outside a restaurant.

Somebody's having fun with the duct work.

Across the street, the baseball stadium.

Indoors, a model of the Tobacco campus. Note how small the people are.

Rent a LimeBike.

A clump of mistletoe in a tree next to the campus.

I love the brickwork. I think the bricklayers took great pride and joy in making their buildings, even factory buildings, more beautiful. How about you? Are you making something more beautiful today? Comment below!

Durham, NC: Manufacturing Power Subverted to Ambience

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Historic American Tobacco Campus

by Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Just remember, as you peruse these photos, that every brick was put into place to process tobacco and make cigarettes, which have caused so much disease, suffering and early death. 

But this factory campus has been turned into a marvelous rabbit warren of shops, businesses, restaurants and coffee shops. There's a radio station here, too.

Here's a bit more spectacular brickwork from Brightleaf Square. The windows are reflecting the blue sky beautifully.

Now we're at the American Tobacco Campus, a huge former cigarette and tobacco processing complex that's been made into shops, restaurants, and relaxation space. Above, the chess set, which uses the Lucky Strike tower as the pawns.

You can sit and watch people play the game of kings.

Fantastic brickwork here, too.

The tobacco processing required lots of water. A huge water feature meanders through the entire complex. Here you can cross it via stepping stones.

More of the water feature.

A conveyor belt became part of the ambience.

Conveyor belts, brick chimneys: raw American manufacturing power--and cancer-inducing power-- turned into a feature for ambience.

Here's the Lucky Strike cigarette tower, almost a symbol of the city of Durham.

A Writer's Dream: A Studio in a Historic Space

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Durham, NC, home of Brightleaf Square, formerly a tobacco factory

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

I visit my offspring in North Carolina as often as I can, especially since there is a bouncing baby boy involved.

The men of the family, in plaid.

We visited Brightleaf Square in Durham. Please note the excellent brickwork details, especially under the eaves and above the windows. 

Inside, a spectacular staircase. How would you like to climb this every day to go to your studio?

Tucked under the staircase is the romantic entry to a restaurant.

The windows have their original shutters, which show some signs of wear and tear.

I'd like to look out of my studio at this beautiful tree with bright red berries.

Brightleaf still has all of its historic shutters. How about you? Do you enjoy American historic architecture? Comment below!