Benefits Unique to Duke
Duke is a place rich in diversity and culture. Throughout the year, employees and community members can take advantage of the many cultural events and unique offerings available at Duke. They can savor performances by top-flight orchestras and opera companies, hear thought provoking lectures by world leaders, enjoy the beauty of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and be a part of the roaring crowd at Duke athletic events.
Duke Chapel
Duke Chapel, a symbol of the university, is at the center of the West Campus. Built in 1932, the Chapel is dominated by a 210-foot tower housing a 50-bell carillon. Home to 13 different religious groups, the Chapel is open to visitors year round and hosts numerous worship services throughout the week and on special occasions. Duke Chapel is currently the most active university chapel in America.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 55 acres of landscaped and woodland gardens in the heart of Duke's West Campus, are open to the public daily. Each year more than 300,000 visitors enjoy the gardens' five miles of walkways and more than 2,000 species and varieties of plants.
American Dance Festival
Each summer the largest and most influential modern dance festival in the world takes place on the campus of Duke University. The American Dance Festival attracts more than two dozen modern dance companies and hundreds of choreographers, writers, and students to Durham for classes and performances.
Duke Forest
Duke Forest covers 7,700 acres of land and serves as a natural outdoor lab for Duke and neighboring universities. The forest is managed for multiple uses, including education, research, protection of wildlife and rare plant species, and demonstration of timber management practices. Selected roads and fire trails are open to visitors for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Broadway at Duke
The Broadway at Duke series brings high-quality, professional productions of various genres, origins and themes to Duke, Durham, and the Triangle.
Duke Blue Devils (Athletics)
The Blue Devils are one of the nation's strongest university athletic programs for men and women. Duke participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is dedicated to developing true student-athletes. The athletics program has produced more than 200 All Americans, 26 Olympians, 14 NCAA titles (team and individual) and some of the country's most dedicated fans. For updates, see the GoDuke Weekly online news magazine.
Lemur Center
The Lemur Center, the only university-based facility in the world devoted to the study of prosimian primates, is home to the world's largest colony of endangered primates, including more than 250 lemurs, bush babies and lorises. More than 85 percent of the center's inhabitants were born on site. In 1997, the center began a program to reintroduce black and white ruffed lemurs to Madagascar, the first return of any prosimian primates to the island nation.
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University fosters the understanding and appreciation of the visual arts by providing direct experiences with original works of art supported by a range of exhibitions, programs and publications for the university and the broader community. The museum draws on the intellectual resources of a great research university and serves as a laboratory of the arts dedicated to multidisciplinary approaches to learning. These strategies make the Nasher at Duke a unique cornerstone of the arts for Duke University, Durham and the Triangle community, the State of North Carolina and the greater Southeast region.
Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture was designed to recognize and appreciate the heritage of black Americans. The Center features an art gallery, library and lounge, and it sponsors speakers on various issues throughout the year.
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
Duke staff and faculty can give directly to Duke's partner agencies or to any 501c3 of their choice via the Triangle United Way through our employee giving campaign. Duke provides an opportunity for people to give via payroll deduction at no cost and now offers expanded options to give money or time.
Department of Biology Greenhouse
The Department of Biology Greenhouses offer excellent educational opportunities for the community. It houses one of the most diverse collections of plants under glass in the Southeast, comprising more than 2,000 different species from many environments.