Built in 1929, Whitehall Terrace, also known as the Richard H. Wright II House, is deeply intertwined with Durham's early 20th-century development. Designed in the Colonial Revival style by esteemed architect George Watts Carr, the residence was among the earliest and most distinguished homes in Durham's northern Duke Park neighborhood.

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Richard H. Wright II initially gained recognition as a gentleman farmer, managing the extensive 1,500-acre Snow Hill Farm situated on land once part of the historic Stagville Plantation. His significant wealth and property holdings were inherited from his uncle, Richard H. Wright, a prominent magnate in the tobacco and utilities industries. Utilizing this substantial inheritance, Wright II took an active role in shaping Durham's expansion, particularly through the development of Duke Park Estates.

 

As head of the Wright Real Estate Company, Wright II played an influential role in developing residential areas in the Duke Park neighborhood, establishing a legacy of architectural and community planning significance that continues to define the character of the area today. Whitehall Terrace remains a testament to this pivotal period in Durham’s growth, reflecting both the historical wealth and progressive urban development of the early twentieth century.