Historic Preservation Commission launches Wake Forest History Exchange

The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has partnered with Historic Preservation Planning staff, GIS (Geographic Information System) staff, and the Wake Forest Historical Museum to launch the Wake Forest History Exchange - an interactive GIS-based program that allows community members to share information about Wake Forest’s history. The history exchange is available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange.

“There are many layers to the history of Wake Forest, some well-known some not so well-known,” says Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael. “The Historic Preservation Program created the history exchange map to provide the public an opportunity to celebrate and share Wake Forest's special places, people, and traditions.”

According to Michael, the History Exchange has four main goals: 1) Engage with the public about Wake Forest’s history; 2) Explore lesser-known and underrepresented histories in Wake Forest; 3) Educate the public, Town officials, and Town staff about Wake Forest’s unique history; and 4) Exchange information about Wake Forest history in an interactive way.

Adopted in 2022, the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) recommended that the HPC and historic preservation staff increase access to and transparency about historic preservation program information and practices. The plan also recommended making use of current technology to educate the public and encourage learning opportunities about untold community histories. The history exchange helps accomplish those goals by making it easy for the public to share historic information with the Town.

Community members are encouraged to share stories that add to the history of Wake Forest via the online “Share your story” survey. Photos and audio files can be uploaded on the site, while audio can also be recorded on the site. For more information about the Wake Forest History Exchange, visit https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange or email Michelle Michael at [email protected].

For more information about historic preservation in Wake Forest, visit https://bit.ly/WFHistoricPreservation.