Please join us in celebrating National Preservation Month, this May!

Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, businesses, and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month through events that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National Trust extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even greater opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states.

Please visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s website for more information on the national celebration and check out the events below to see how Cary is celebrating.

Preservation Month Events - May 2025

May 1 - 31 | Free (registration required)

Cary History Hunt - Downtown Cary
Get out your walking shoes and come along for a downtown history scavenger hunt. Complete our online form before the end of May for your chance to win a prize! Click HERE to open the History Hunt form.

May 8, 7 p.m. | Free (no registration required)

Changing Face of Downtown Cary
Presented by the Friends of Page-Walker in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month
Page-Walker Arts & History Center | 119 Ambassador Loop
Join the Friends for the first "Changing Face of Downtown Cary" presentation. Learn about the evolution of Chatham Street as Cary grew from a railroad town to a suburban highway town to an urbanized town. Hear stories about historic properties along Chatham Street and the people associated with them. 

May 18, 1:30 - 4 p.m. | Free (no registration required) 

Ribbon Cutting for the Ivey-Ellington House
Ivey-Ellington House | 310 S. Academy Street
Come join in the celebration of the restoration of one of Cary’s Historic Landmarks, the Ivey-Ellington House. The Ivey-Ellington house is significant because it is a rare surviving example of secular Gothic Revival architecture in Wake County, which was moved from its original location on West Chatham Street, to its new home on Academy Street. Read more about the house’s relocation and restoration on the Town’s project website. Join the Mayor, Town Council, Historic Preservation Commission, and the Friends of the Page-Walker to talk about all things preservation!

Summer 2025 | Free (no registration required)

Guilliams Archaeological Collection
Page-Walker Arts & History Center | 119 Ambassador Loop
In 2023, the Page-Walker received a donation of historic and prehistoric archaeological artifacts from David Guilliams. Found during the construction of Cary Parkway and Maynard Road, the artifacts help tell the story of Cary's history as far back as 12,000 years ago. More than 70 items from the collection are now on display in the Page-Walker lobby, through late summer 2025.

Cary takes great pride in its history and all our historic and cultural resources. If you are curious to know more about Cary’s historic preservation program, our local landmarks, and National Register properties and districts in Cary, please visit the Town’s website for more information!