George Smart, founder and director of the award-winning non-profit organization North Carolina Modernist Houses (NCMH) will present his signature talk “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina's Modernist Architectural Legacy” three times during Wake County Public Libraries’ July lecture series entitled “Exploring North Carolina Architecture.”

Smart will join other architectural historians who will discuss some of the state’s most significant structures spanning three centuries of design.

“Mayberry Modernism” specifically showcases North Carolina’s surprisingly large collection of Modernist residences from the 1950s through today. Many of these houses are in good shape, some are endangered, and many have been destroyed.

The presentation’s slideshow features 50 award-winning Modernist houses in the state from mid-century to new construction. The houses are culled from the NCMH archive (www.ncmodernist.org), the largest single archive of Modernist houses and those who design them in the nation.

"The architecture and unique styles of our Modernist homes and structures play an important role in the beauty and heritage of our region,” said Susan Wolf Neilson, Adult Services Librarian for Arts and Literature at the West Regional Library. “We also have so many new residents, and sharing this historical cultural tradition is important."

Smart will present "Mayberry Modernism" at the Cameron Village Library, 1930 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, on Thursday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m.; at the West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary, on Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m.; and at the North Regional Library at 7009 Harps Mill Road, Raleigh, on Wednesday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m.

Also during the summer series Reid Thomas, Restoration Specialist, and Michael Southern, Senior Architectural Historian, both of the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, will address much older architecture:

On Tuesday, July 2, Thomas will discuss “Exploring Northeastern North Carolina’s Early Architecture” at 11 a.m. in the Southeast Regional Library, 908 Seventh Avenue, Garner, and again at 2 p.m. in the Eva Perry Regional Library, 2100 Shepherds Vineyard Drive, Apex.

On Tuesday, July 22, Michael Southern will discuss “North Carolina’s Earliest Congregations and Oldest Church Buildings” at 10:30 a.m. in East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale.

For more information on Wake County Public Libraries’ summer series and other programs for adults, visit www.wakegov.com/libraries.

For more information on NCMH and “Mayberry Modernism,” visit www.ncmodernist.org.