Lost Raleigh

Exploring the Oak City's Architectural History

Landmarks with great historical, architectural, and cultural value are often demolished in the name of progress, leaving little but memories behind. In the growing city of Raleigh, many important buildings have been razed, but even when no longer present, these landmarks hold histories that can help us understand not only what Raleigh used to look like but what kind of place Raleigh used to be.

Mary Ruffin Hanbury and Ian F. G. Dunn, building on the work of the late Karl Larson, have gathered photographs and stories of Raleigh landmarks from the late eighteenth century to the late twentieth century, including private homes, public and educational buildings, parks, malls, churches, and businesses. Among these noteworthy places are the home of controversial newspaper editor Josephus Daniels; the nineteenth-century municipal building Metropolitan Hall; and the famous Eduardo Catalano house. Full of photos and fascinating stories, Lost Raleigh is a comprehensive look at the city’s cultural and architectural past and a plea to protect and preserve the landmarks that make our cities unique, connecting us to our shared history.

Mary Ruffin Hanbury is the founder of Hanbury Preservation Consulting, based in Raleigh. Ian F. G. Dunn is an archivist and local historian who lives in Raleigh.

“An indispensable guide to the city’s lost buildings and landscapes. By highlighting this architectural history with numerous documentary photographs, the authors make a much-needed case for preservation in Raleigh at a time when the city’s growth is burgeoning.”—J. Myrick Howard, president emeritus of Preservation North Carolina

“Mary Ruffin Hanbury and Ian F. G. Dunn give readers a beautifully illustrated and illuminating look into Raleigh’s architectural past. One can’t help but feel a pang of wistful regret at the many lost treasures of architectural design. The authors have given us, not only a wonderful tour of bygone buildings and landmarks, but also a unique way to appreciate North Carolina’s capital city’s history.”—Dan Becker, owner of Heritage Arts of North Carolina LLC

ISBN 9781469694122 | Paperback, 240 Pages, 7.00 × 10.00 in, 124 halftones, bibl., index

Publication date: May 12, 2026