Preservation
Chapel Hill NCModernist — Architecture You Love
A partnership tour
The Arthur and Betty Cogswell House II, 308 North Elliott Road, Chapel Hill

Open DoorsChapel Hill Modernism

Six Modernist houses in three Chapel Hill neighborhoods
Presented by Preservation Chapel Hill & NCModernist
Saturday, November 21, 2026 · 9 AM – 1 PM

Open Doors: Chapel Hill Modernism. A self-drive morning tour of six Modernist houses in three Chapel Hill neighborhoods — Coker Hills, Lake Forest, and Mason Farm. Take your own car from house to house at your own pace.  This tour is in memory of Phill Lyons, 1942-2026, a devoted advocate for historic preservation in Chapel Hill and a longtime leader with Preservation Chapel Hill.  Phill worked tirelessly to document, recognize, and protect Chapel Hill’s architectural heritage. Among his many contributions, he worked closely with the Coker Hills neighborhood and helped lead the effort that resulted in its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  As we visit Modernist homes across three Chapel Hill neighborhoods (including Coker Hills) we honor Phill’s commitment to recognizing the places that tell our community’s story and ensuring they are understood, celebrated, and preserved for generations to come.

Get Your Tickets

Proceeds benefit Preservation Chapel Hill and NCModernist, North Carolina 501C3 nonprofits.

The Invitation

Six front doors,
open for one morning.

This fall Preservation Chapel Hill and NCModernist team up for a compact morning of Modernist architecture in three Chapel Hill neighborhoods. Three houses are in Coker Hills, the hilly, heavily wooded 1960s subdivision north of Estes Drive that holds one of the best runs of Modernist houses in the state. One is in Lake Forest, the 1950s neighborhood built around Eastwood Lake. Two are south of campus in the Mason Farm and Goose Farm pocket, on big wooded lots beside the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

Pick up your tour map at check-in and drive yourself from house to house. Linger where you like, meet the owners, and be done by lunchtime.

Reserve Your Place

Tour Tickets

Tour Ticket
$35
Per person
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Family Pack
$90
Up to 4 people
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Tour Options

Six houses, one morning, six open doors. Mark your calendar and get your tickets!

Details

Know Before You Go

Starting Point

Check-in location and times TBA.

Parking

Park at the houses, being careful not to block driveways.

Timing

The tour runs from 9 AM to 1 PM. Houses close promptly at 1, so allow enough time to see all six.

Shoes Off

To reduce dirt and damage to floors, participants remove shoes at each house — or bring your own booties. Plan your socks accordingly.

Photography

Photos are allowed and encouraged, inside and outside all the houses. Please share them; tag @ncmodernist.

Accessibility

Most houses are not ADA accessible. Participants must navigate stairs unaided. You may skip any house you wish.

CE Credit

Architects can earn self-reported CEU hours if arranged in advance with the AIA.

The Fine Print

  • Tickets are not mailed; your name will be on a list at check-in.
  • Once payment is made there are no refunds for any reason except tour cancellation.
  • You may transfer your place to another person with at least a week’s written notice to devra@usmodernist.org.
  • The tour runs rain or shine.
  • The houses on the tour are subject to change without notice or refund.
  • A signed liability release is required for all participants. We’ll send it ahead of time — read, print, sign, and bring it to check-in. Please do not email them.
  • Those travelling together may sign the same form. Parents must sign for and accompany anyone under 18.
  • Food and drink are not allowed in the houses.
  • Strollers are not permitted inside any houses.
  • Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in the houses.
  • Questions: Devra Dubroff, devra@usmodernist.org