Published by Christina Riley. Last Updated on June 26, 2024.
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Old Salem is a famous historic district in Winston-Salem. It serves as an educational museum and showcase for those who want to come and learn about Moravians in North Carolina, who established the Central North Carolina community in the late 18th century.
One can easily spend a day or more visiting the various shops, historic buildings, gardens, and everything else that makes up Old Salem. Here are some tips for visiting Old Salem and background information on this one-of-a-kind living history museum!
Read More: 40+ of the Most Amazing Museums in North Carolina (for ALL Ages!)
What to Expect: Old Salem
Address: 900 Old Salem Rd, Winston-Salem, NC
Official Website
Old Salem takes visitors through the lives and times of Moravians during the late 18th Century. While the historic district is free to walk around, you won’t be able to experience much of the history without a ticket inside the buildings. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Center, the Horton Center, Winkler Bakery, or online.
- A self-guided tour of the Historic Town of Salem with a hands-on learning experience of living history and historic trade demonstrations
- Frank L. Horton Museum Center (this includes the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Moravian Collection).
- Access to the Gardens of Old Salem.
Tickets are $30 per adult, $16 per student/child (undergraduate students must show a college ID), plus tax; free entry for children 0-3 years old.
Holiday Ticket Rates (November 15-December 30st): $36 per adult, $16 per student, and free entry for children 0-3 years old
Old Salem invites a variety of groups to come and visit, too. Schools love to come here, but many adults also flock in unison.
They offer various tours and ticket packages for visitors, with an emphasis on getting behind the scenes at the museum.
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When to Visit Old Salem
Old Salem Museums and Gardens is open year-round except for January each year. The Visitors Center and Open Buildings are open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We recommend utilizing the full time they are open to really ask questions and explore all the open buildings.
The ALL-IN-ONE ticket grants you entry for two consecutive days. This is great if you live in the area or don’t want to do it all in one day.
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Frank L. Horton Museum Center and MESDA
Your ticket to Old Salem starts with entry to the Galleries in the Frank L. Horton Museum Center. Start upstairs at MESDA- The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.
MESDA includes curated decorative artifacts from eight Southern states and has the largest collection of Southern pottery in the US in one building.
Find some of the earliest American furniture, with some dating back to the 1700s. While access to MESDA is included in your ticket to Old Salem, visitors can upgrade and request a connoisseur tour of specific galleries.
After walking around the upstairs galleries of MESDA, continue downstairs to the basement to walk around the Moravian Collection. These are decorative pieces and artifacts that are originally from Salem.
While Old Salem does a fantastic job of telling the story of the people, the Moravian Collection at the Frank L. Horton Museum examines the art and craft skills within Salem.
Read More: Visiting Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem
Scope Out the Old Architecture in Old Salem
Intertwined with all the history that you’ll learn while visiting Old Salem is architecture. There are some incredible buildings with varying influences. You’ll encounter Central European influences mixed with Greek Revival and other remnants of early American styles.
Even though cars are on the street while you walk around, it’s lovely to walk around Main Street’s cobblestone sidewalks and soak in Old Salem’s architecture.
Read more: Outdoor things to do in Winston-Salem
Learn About the Moravians
Your ticket to Old Salem invites you to experience life as a Moravian. But who are the Moravians?
Moravians are a Protestant denomination and followers of Jan Hus, a Czech reformer who opposed Catholic corruption. The Moravians fled the Czech Republic to Germany and then settled, most notably in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and then found the area of Wachovia in North Carolina.
Old Salem was founded in 1766 and was a closed community. The church owned the land, and anyone living in the community must be church members.
Visiting Old Salem gives you a fantastic glimpse into what life was like as a church member and how the community operated.
Tour Open Buildings
Your ticket to Old Salem grants you access to the open buildings. There will be large signs outside of each open building and a short description of what you’ll find inside.
It is important to note this as there are private residences in Old Salem. Below are some short descriptions of those open buildings and what you’ll expect to experience.
- Volger House: gives an excellent insight into upscale living in Old Salem as well as the stories and daily life of the enslaved.
- Timothy Folger Gun Shop: Here you can see the intricate work that went into crafting hunting riffles for the community. Craftspeople inside the gun shop continue to make commissioned riffles as they were historically made.
- Salem Tavern Museum: This is one of (in my opinion) the most interesting buildings in Old Salem. The Tavern was the only place where people outside of the church stayed. Salem was a crucial place for industry, and so travelers would stay here at the Tavern while commencing in trade. George Washington even stayed here in the Tavern! During his stay, he worked to help ratify the Constitution and examine the Moravians running water system!
- Blum House Joinery: The Joinery was central to commercial trade during the 18th century. A joiner is a tradesperson who works specifically with wood, so these Moravians not only worked for their fellow Brothers but also made furniture for sale.
- Single Brothers House: This is one of the largest buildings open to ticket holders at Old Salem. This house is where all of the single young men (14-21) would live while they apprenticed a trade.
- Boys’ School: This is one of the best places to stop in with kids as it has lots of hands-on activities! This building was where young boys (ages 6-14) would learn. It is also the oldest boys’ school in America!
- Miksch House & Garden: While the Volger House depicts upscale life in Salem, the Miksch House gives visitors a glimpse into what a typical family would experience. It was the first family house built in Salem, and visitors join interpreters as they cook, go through daily chores, and life in the garden in 1771.
Dig Even Deeper into Old Salem’s Background
It’s just as important to learn about African-American contributions to Old Salem as it is to eat Moravian Cookies.
Their contributions to the community formed the backbone and beyond, as many Black Moravians were skilled potters, carpenters, and even translators for the bilingual community. Recent efforts are working to expand upon what’s presented to visitors at Old Salem.
Note: Initiatives like the Slave Dwelling Project and the Hidden Town Project are working to inform people about the legacy of Moravians better, regardless of skin color.
Read more: Black History Locations in North Carolina
Admire the Gardens
Old Salem’s historic and sustainable gardens are admirable, not because they are flashy and full of beautiful flowers.
Instead, these individual plots are functional and sustainable and have been a part of the community since their inception in 1766. If the season is right, you’ll find spots like the Miksch Garden filled with various fruits, vegetables, grains, and more.
Read more: Day Trips from Winston-Salem
Eat, Shop, and Stay in Old Salem
(Note: None of the following shops require a ticket to enter!) While visiting Old Salem, stop by Muddy Creek Cafe and Music Hall. Located in the lower level of T. Badge Potter’s Workshop, Muddy Creek serves delicious sandwiches, soups, and a fantastic Mediterranean plate! If it’s a traditional Moravian Pie you fancy, they have that too!
C. Winkler Bakery is a must-visit when in Old Salem. Established in 1807 by a Swiss baker, Christian Winkler, alongside his wife and six children, would live and work in the house. Generations of Winklers with continue working in the bakery.
When you walk into Winkler’s Bakery, you’ll smell the freshly baked Moravian treats that are still warm from the early morning baking. Bring home some of the thin, crispy Moravian cookies, cheese stars, and (of course!) a traditional Sugar Cake.
If you are searching for Moravian stars or souvenirs, the Stockberger Supply is a great place to shop. It is located inside the Visitor Center and has a great selection of gifts. The second floor of Winkler’s also has some fantastic curated local gifts, toys, and books.
Did you know a bed and breakfast is located inside the historic district of Old Salem!? The Zeverly Inn is listed on the National Historic Register and maintains its mid-19th-century decor.
Named for the mayor of Salem, Dr. Augustus T. Zevely, the house served as his office to see patients as well as an inn for travelers. It continued to be an Inn until the beginning of the 20th century when it became a private residence and then apartments.
It was restored in 1993 to bring it back to its 1844-1856 origins. Details can be seen in the millwork, flooring, and high-quality reproductions of original furniture.
Read more: Where to eat in Winston-Salem NC
Find the Coffee Pot in Old Salem
We’re nerds for landmarks like the famed Salem Coffee Pot. Found at the junction of South Main Street, Old Salem Road, and Brookstown Avenue, this 7-foot-tall tin pot is great for photos.
There’s also a cool backstory behind it. According to one source, the pot separated Salem from Winston, as the latter was viewed as a threat to young ladies’ virtue.
Stay Near Old Salem
We have stayed in Winston-Salem a few times, even at the Brookstown Inn Hotel, that’s very close to Old Salem. Its backstory, amazing service, and delicious breakfast are just a few of the reasons you should check out this hotel.
Brookstown Inn Hotel is one of a few historic hotels in Winston-Salem, all ready to serve your visit!
Ready to Explore Old Salem Now?
We love Old Salem and think it’s one of the best things to do in Winston-Salem.
Fun special events are happening throughout the year (check here) and there’s even a Cobblestone Farmers Market open Saturday mornings between April and November.
Have you ever been to Old Salem? What did you think of it? If you’ve never been, what’s the first thing you want to do there?
We’d love to keep talking about it in the comments section below. Don’t forget to share your Winston-Salem adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.
