W. T. Blackwell and Company Tobacco Factory

This four-story brick factory with Italianate architecture stands at the intersection of West Pettigrew and Blackwell Street and spans extensive floor space. The building today houses apartments within the historic American Tobacco Company Manufacturing Plant district.

This factory was founded in 1874 and was the first brick building of its kind in American tobacco manufacturing. It marked a turning point in how industrial production was organized and carried out.

The Bull Durham brand produced at this location shaped Durham's identity and turned it into a major industrial hub. Visitors can still sense this economic power in how the factory dominates the surrounding area.

The site is located at a recognizable intersection in downtown Durham and is easy to reach. The building itself is visible from outside, allowing visitors to admire the architecture and scale from the street.

The brand advertising produced here in the 19th century helped create one of America's first nationally recognized commercial logos. These campaigns reached people in distant places and made the product a symbol of Durham's industrial identity.