Raleigh's LGBTQIA+ Historic Places: Narrowing It Down

Phase I of this project created of a preliminary roster of Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ historic places. Now, Phase II of this project will take a closer look at 20 of these existing places. The evaluation will include a short site history and a current photo. Our team will evaluate each site’s historic significance within the context of Raleigh’s larger LGBTQIA+ community.

We are seeking the community’s input on which of these historic sites should get a closer look. We want to know which places on the list are most important to the larger LGBTQIA+ community. Which places are you curious to know more about? Where would you like to see the project’s limited resources focused?

A special thanks to those of you who took our August 2024 survey. Your input helped us narrow down the list. View those survey results and criteria here. You can now take a final consolidated project survey to tell us which 20 sites should receive a deeper dive.

Select your Top 20 choices.

From the list below, please select your Top 20 sites. These places have met the following criteria:

Located inside current Raleigh city limits.
Known street address.
Physical building is still standing.
Associated LGBTQIA+ use dates from the 1990s or earlier.
Received at least 3 votes in the August 2024 survey.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This survey's Top 20 vote-getters are not guaranteed to be selected for more research. City staff and the project consultant will choose the sites based in part on your feedback. We will give priority to places that also: increase representation, add diversity of research, are likely to have more information available, or help to tell a more complete story of the Raleigh LGBTQIA+ experience.

A few more notes about this list of places:

We combined places that shared the same physical address into a single entry.
We kept some sites related to women, African Americans, and early decades that received fewer votes. We added more context to the entries.
We added more context to all entries to help you choose the places you're interested in.
We removed Private Residences when we couldn’t confirm the person has died and/or was publicly out in their lifetime. (We are using best practices. Enough time must elapse to assess both the person's field of endeavor and their contribution to that field. Generally, the person's active participation must be finished to give us historic perspective. Only then should historic designation or recognition be considered.)
If descriptions are very short, we do not have much information about that place. If you have more to share, please use the blank field at the bottom of the survey to provide more details.

The City's Preservation Planning staff expresses our sincere gratitude to those willing to share your knowledge and help this project succeed! We will use this data in City efforts to recognize Raleigh’s LGBTQIA+ historic places out in the world. Learn more by visiting the project page.

* Choose your Top 20 Raleigh LGBTQIA+ historic places.

Click your Top 20 places to select them from the alphabetized list below. If you change your mind, you can deselect by clicking the entry again.

White Rabbit Books & Things / Front Page Newspaper (2) (+Pink Triangle Tours): 309 W. Martin St. (1970s) Allied Business; Long-running bookstore and non-nightlife community space. One of NC's first LGBTQ newspapers was published from here.

73%

Legends: 330 W. Hargett St. (1990s) Bar/Club; Long-running and prominent LGBTQIA+ nighclub; Opened in 1991 in Raleigh's "gayborhood" Warehouse District.

71%

Flex / Fallout Shelter: 2 S. West St. (1990s) Bar/Club; Full spectrum clientele, including drag queens, go-go boys, and leather daddies; Prior to Flex, the punk-style Fallout Shelter operated here.

65%

Capital Corral (CC) & Glitter Gulch (+ The Queen Bee, Capital Leathermen, 313): 313 W. Hargett St. (1970s) Bar/Club; Site of various gay bars from 1977-2011, most notably the white male membership-based Capital Corral, owned by Art Sperry and Paul Otto.

54%

Pullen Memorial Baptist Church: 1801 Hillsborough St. (1990s) Religious Institution; Held funerals for AIDS victims 1980s, performed same-sex unions in 1990s, continues LGBTQIA+ ministry and meeting space for community groups and more.

54%

Mousetrap, The (+ Glenwood, Glenwood Park, 1622): 1622 Glenwood Ave. (1970s) Bar/Club; Women-Related; A string of LGBTQIA+ bars operated here over 30 years, including women-friendly Glenwood Park in the 1980s.

52%

Rialto Theater: 1620 Glenwood Ave. (1970s) Recreation; Showcases independent films and local home of the live Rocky Horror Picture Show.

50%

LGBTQ Pride Center (formerly the NC State GLBT Center): 2610 Cates Ave. (1980s) Organization; Current LGBTQIA+ university group evolving from several past group iterations since at least the 1970s.

44%

Equality North Carolina: 126 E. Hargett St. (1980s) Organization; Oldest statewide org dedicated to securing LGBTQIA+ rights and protections.

42%

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh (+ Raleigh Gay Club, PFLAG): 3313 Wade Ave. (1970s) Religious Institution; Provided meeting space for LGBTQIA+ support organizations, such as a Women's Coffeehouse, Raleigh Gay Club led by Willie Pilkington and John Voorhees, and PFLAG.

42%

Cameron Court Apartments / "Queen's Court": 804 W. Hargett St. (1980s) Private Residence; Apartments known at one time for its high concentration of LGBTQIA+ residents.

38%

Dorothea Dix Hospital (formerly Dix Hill): 1200 Lake Wheeler Rd. (1950s) Healthcare; LGBTIA+ individuals sent here for treatments and "cures," but little documentation has been located.

38%

Gay & Lesbian Helpline of Wake County: 608 W. Johnson St. (1980s) Healthcare; Provided emergency mental health assistance to LGBTQIA+ individuals.

35%

Hustead House: 3104 Orton Pl. (1980s) Healthcare; HIV/AIDS-Related; Used as de facto hospice house for people with AIDS (PWAs).

35%

Raleigh Little Theatre: 301 Pogue St. (1990s) Recreation; HIV/AIDS-Related; Known to stage LGBTQIA+-centered plays and movie screenings, such as HIV/AIDS event on December 24, 1993.

35%

Power Company: 3141 North Blvd. (1980s) Bar/Club; Women-Related; African American-Related.

29%

Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel (+ Kitty Hawk Tavern / Admiral's Galley): 400 Fayetteville St. (1950s) Bar/Club; Catered to out-of-towners for discrete meet-ups, with entrances from hotel and from street and a cruising bathroom.

29%

Anchorage, The: 2003b Fairview Rd. (1950s) Bar/Club; Women-Related; Allegedly first Raleigh bar to allow crowds of gay men & lesbians at same time on weekends.

27%

Nash Square Park: 200 S. McDowell St. (1970s) Cruising Spot; Site of RPD sting operation to arrest gay men.

27%

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Triangle Area: 100 Peartree Ln. (1990s) Organization; Meeting documented on May 20, 1993. Met at UUFR (3313 Wade Ave) in earlier decades.

27%

Sperry & Associates (+ AIDS Service Agency of Wake County, LGBT Center of Raleigh, Alliance of AIDS Service): 324 S. Harrington St. (1980s) Organization; HIV/AIDS-Related; Art Sperry (CC owner) owned and leased space to other LGBTQIA+ organizations

27%

AIDS Community Residence Association (ACRA): 816 Barbara Dr. (1990s) Organization; HIV/AIDS-Related; Home of Alan Scott and Jerry Early.

25%

JC Raulston Arboretum: 4415 Beryl Rd. (1980s) Recreation; Founded as NCSU Arboretum by J.C. Raulston, a horticultural and gay acceptance ambassador.

25%

J.C. Raulston Home: 318 E. Davie St. (1980s) Private Residence; NC State professor, horticultural innovator and a proponent of gay acceptance and inclusion; Formed the Lavandula Society and hosted first gatherings at his home.

25%

Raleigh HIV/AIDS Support Group: 109 N. Boylan Ave. (1980s) Organization; HIV/AIDS-Related; Meeting location for the Raleigh HIV/AIDS Support Group led by Chris Weedy & Jimmy Creech.

25%

Triangle Black Pride / Shades of Pride: 5000 Sedgewick Dr., Ste. C (1990s) Organization; African American-Related.

25%

Community United Church of Christ (+ St. John's MCC & Triangle Sports Alliance): 814 Dixie Trl. (1970s) Religious Institution; Affirming congregation that provided meeting space for St. John's MCC first 17 years and to Triangle Sports Alliance in the 1990s.

23%

Halifax Park / Halifax Community Center: 1023 Halifax St. (1990s) Recreation; Site of LGBTQIA+ informal sporting meet-ups and first location of official Stonewall Sports local chapter.

21%

Irregardless Café: 901 W. Morgan St. (1960s) Allied Business; Restaurant.

21%

Players Retreat: 105 Oberlin Rd. (1960s) Bar/Club; Originally a restaurant space for the theater community, it is now a neighborhood institution and NC State stronghold.

21%

Rathskellar, The: 2412 Hillsborough St. (1980s) Allied Business; Restaurant.

21%

Cup A Joe: 3100 Hillsborough St. (1990s) Allied Business; Coffee shop opened by Dave Sullivan.

19%

Androgyny Center, The: 220 N. Boylan Ave. (1970s) Healthcare; Counseling; Transgender-Related; Dr. Lou Sawyer, Ph.D. is an LGBTQIA+ psychologist who works with Transgender, relationship issues, and addiction therapy.

17%

City Council Chambers: 222 W. Hargett St. (1980s) Political-Related Site; Site of 01/05/1988 vote to expand non-discrimination ordinance to include sexual orientation.

17%

William B. Umstead State Park: 8801 Glenwood Ave. (1980s) Recreation; Site of 1984-85 Pride events.

17%

Crabtree Valley Mall Men's Restrooms: 4325 Glenwood Ave. (1980s) Cruising Spot.

15%

Moore Square: 201 S. Blount St. (1990s) Political-Related Site; Site of N.C. Pride March.

15%

Triangle Gay Alliance: 412 Kinsey St. (1970s) Organization; Led by Bob Bland in house used as headquarters and communal housing.

15%

Women's Center: 128 E. Hargett St. (1990s) Healthcare; Counseling; Women-Related.

15%

Boyer Hall, Saint Augustine's College: 1315 Oakwood Ave. (1980s) Political-Related Site; African American-Related.

13%

National Organization for Women (NC & Raleigh Chapters): 204 N. Person St., Room 202 / 111 Ridgewood Dr., #1401 (1980s) Organization; Women-Related; Local chapters focused on equal rights for women and LGBTQIA+ rights.

13%

Pegasus Plus: 6805 Davis Cir. (1980s) Adult Bookstore/Cruising Spot.

13%

Red Roaster, The: 2005 Fairview Rd. (1970s) Bar/Club; Served older male clientele somewhat under-the-radar.

13%

Studio One Theatre: 2420 Hillsborough St. (1980s) Recreation; Previously the Varsity Theatre; Site of the 1980 Miss Gay Raleigh Pageant featuring local drag queens.

13%

Capitol Blvd News: 2236 Capital Blvd. (1990s) Adult Bookstore/Cruising Spot.

10%

Chateau II / Castle News & Video: 1210 Downtown Blvd. (1980s) Adult Bookstore/Cruising Spot.

10%

Raleigh Friends Meeting House: 625 Tower St. (1990s) Religious Institution.

10%

Reader's Corner, The: 3201 Hillsborough St. (1980s) Allied Business; Used bookstore.

10%

Bachelor's Library / Bachelor's Books and Movies: 3411 S. Wilmington St. (1980s) Adult Bookstore/Cruising Spot.

Camera's Eye, The / Snapshots Video & News: 1433 S. Wilmington St. (1980s) Adult Bookstore/Cruising Spot.

Church of the Good Shepherd / Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen: 121 Hillsborough St. (1990s) Religious Institution.

"Under One Roof": 3622 Haworth Dr. (1980s) Professional Services; HIV/AIDS-Related; Social support component of Johnston & Wake County Human Services HIV/STD clinic.

Art Space: 201 E. Davie St. (1980s) Allied Business; Visual art exhibits and events.

Glenwood South Galleries / Glenwood South Antiques and Fine Art: 126 Glenwood Ave. (1980s) Allied Business; Antiques dealership of W. Samuel Tarlton.

Light Group of AA and AL-Anon: 3824 Barrett Dr. (1980s) Organization; Long-running Alcoholics Anonymous open meeting with LGBTQIA+ community focus.

Nice Price Books and Records: 222 N. Bloodworth St. & 3106 Hillsborough St. (1970s) Allied Business; Used books and record store.

Raleigh Memorial Auditorium: 2 E. South St. (1970s) Political-Related Site; Triangle Gay Alliance sponsored a drag event here in 1972.

Reynolds Coliseum: 2411 Dunn Ave. (1980s) Political-Related Site; Site of a 1979 Gay and Lesbian rally.

Sensations: 3210 Yonkers Rd. (1980s) Bar/Club.

UNC Rex Hospital: 4420 Lake Boone Trl. (1980s) Healthcare; HIV/AIDS-Related.

Ron "Rolo" Fleming, Judie's Professional Travel / Rainbow Travel: 2801 Blue Ridge Rd. (1990s) Professional Services; Travel.

State Capitol Grounds: 1 E. Edenton St. (1980s) Political-Related Site.

Temple Beth Or: 5315 Creedmoor Rd. (1970s) Religious Institution.

Tucker House: 420 N. Blount St. (1980s) Allied Business.

Unitarian Universalist Women's Coffeehouse: 119 Hawthorne Rd. (1970s) Religious Institution; Women-Related; Owned and hosted by UUFR in late 1970s.

Casa Carbone Ristorante: 6019-A Glenwood Ave. (1980s) Allied Business; Restaurant.

Anchor Financial Group: 4020 Westchase Blvd., Ste. 460 (1990s) Professional Services; Real Estate.

Andrea Moriarty, Ammons Pittman Realtors: 911 Paverstone Dr. (1990s) Professional Services; Real Estate.

Community Counseling Center with A. Wayne Cannon: 3535 S. Wilmington St., Ste. 206 (1990s) Healthcare; Counseling.

Edelstein & Payne Attorneys: 610 W. Peace St. (1980s) Professional Services; Legal (Worker's Compensation).

Closed to responses | 48 Responses

Tell us what you know about the LGBTQIA+ historic places in the survey above. Please include any details you know to help us with our research efforts. (i.e. When was this place active? Who did it serve? What was special or unique about this place and why is it important to you?)

Closed for Comments

Let us know about any ideas you have to celebrate LGBTQIA+ historic places we learn about.

Closed for Comments

Thank you for your interest in the project. Sign up to receive project updates and to be alerted when the final community meeting is scheduled.

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Raleigh's LGBTQIA+ Historic Places: Narrowing It Down

Raleigh's LGBTQIA+ Historic Places: Narrowing It Down

Question title

* Choose your Top 20 Raleigh LGBTQIA+ historic places.

Question title

Tell us what you know about the LGBTQIA+ historic places in the survey above. Please include any details you know to help us with our research efforts. (i.e. When was this place active? Who did it serve? What was special or unique about this place and why is it important to you?)

Question title

Let us know about any ideas you have to celebrate LGBTQIA+ historic places we learn about.

Question title

Thank you for your interest in the project. Sign up to receive project updates and to be alerted when the final community meeting is scheduled.