How to Visit Reynolda House Museum of American Art NC

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The Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, NC, is an icon of American art and history. The collection includes more than 6,000 pieces representing Reynolda’s artistry and the work of famous artists.

The museum is located within Reynolda, a sprawling 170-acre estate in Winston-Salem built in 1917. Reynolda comprises the Reynolda House Museum of American Art (the estate’s centerpiece), the massive Reynolda Gardens, and the picturesque Reynolda Village.

Travelers to Winston-Salem should top their itinerary with a visit to the Reynolda estate, especially the House Museum of American Art.

In this guide, we will dive into the historical and artistic significance of the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and touch on other parts of Reynolda you can’t miss.

Here’s how we have laid out this guide:

2026 Fall in North Carolina Digital Guide. Free downloadable eBook

You can skip to any section within this guide or continue reading about the History of Reynolda House before moving on to how to visit the Reynolda House Museum of American Art!

Where is Reynolda House Museum of American Art?

Address: 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC
Official Website

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art is 3.5 miles northwest of Downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s less than a mile from Graylyn Estate and 1-1/2 miles from Wake Forest University.

History of Reynolda House

The Reynolda estate was built by tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds, who arrived in Winston, North Carolina, in 1874. Over the next century, he and his family oversaw the construction and management of the estate.

In 1905, Reynolds married Katharine Smith, who began buying property outside the city. She accumulated 27 land acquisitions over 13 years, which eventually came together to form the estate.
By 1912, construction was in full swing at Reynolda, a self-sustaining estate with a farm, village, and gardens. Katharine designed and directed the efforts to build Reynolda House.
In 1913, Reynolda’s Greenhouse was finished, now serving as a public entrance to the Gardens.
The main house was completed by 1917; R.J. Reynolds, Katharine, and their four children moved in. Reynolds died a year later.
In 1935, the new generation of Reynolds took over ownership of the estate; Mary Reynolds, R.J. and Katharine’s daughter purchased Reynolda from her siblings and renovated it, adding a guesthouse and recreational facilities.
In 1946, Mary and her husband, Charles Babcock, donated 300 acres of the estate to Wake Forest College to use as its site for its move to Winston-Salem. On October 15, 1951, President Truman visited the estate for the college’s groundbreaking and dined at Reynolda.
After Mary died in 1953, her husband started the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and donated Reynolda Gardens to Wake Forest University.

Reynolda House and its surrounding 19 acres were incorporated as a nonprofit dedicated to the arts and education by Charles Babcock in 1964.
Reynolda House opened to the public as an arts institution in 1965. Barbara Babcock, Mary and Charles’ daughter, founded the fine arts collection.
The House opened an art museum in 1967, unveiling a preliminary collection of 12 American paintings. In its first year of operation, the museum welcomed 11,111 visitors.
Reynola House Museum of American Art became accredited by the American Association of Museums (now the American Alliance of Museums) in 1972.
In 1973, the Museum revealed a permanent exhibit displaying clothing, accessories, toys, and other items belonging to the Reynolds family from the past century.
The estate joined the National Register of Historic Places. The newfound Reynolda Historic District includes Reynolda House, Reynolda Gardens, Reynolda Village, and Reynolda Presbyterian Church.

In 2002, the Museum became officially affiliated with Wake Forest University.
In the following few years, Reynolda House underwent a significant expansion and unveiled the Mary and Charlie Babcock Wing in 2005, which includes a gallery, auditorium, and fine arts storage spaces.
Over the years, the Museum has added exhibits and pieces and now features 6,000 items and artworks that span 250 years of history. Artists displayed in Reynolda House include Georgia O’Keeffe, Frederic Edwin Church, Andy Warhol, and Grant Wood.

Visiting the Reynolda House Museum of American Art Today

Address: 2250 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC
Ticket Info

Reynolda House is a 34,000-square-foot historic home converted into a commended museum for American art and culture. Stepping into the House is like a portal into another time, with the well-preserved 64 rooms providing glimpses into the history of this country estate.

Admission & Ticket Information

Purchase Tickets to Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Reynolda House is open six days a week. Its operating hours are:

Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Some Holidays

Tickets are $18 per person and can be purchased before your visit here or at the front desk. However, the Museum offers free admission for quite a few different groups, including:

Museum Members
Children under 5
College students with ID
Active or retired military personnel with ID
Wake Forest University employees with ID and one guest
Bank of America cardholders on the first full weekend of each month

Museum Exhibits

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art features different revolving exhibits at any given time. Currently, two limited galleries are open for visitors to explore.

Smith & Libby: Two Rings, Seven Months, One Bullet (Ongoing) examines what is undoubtedly Reynolda’s greatest mystery. After midnight on July 6, 1932, Zachary Smith Reynolds, the youngest child of R.J. and Katharine Reynolds, was shot on a porch on the estate. He died that morning, a tragedy that has caused fascination, bewilderment, and curiosity that remain to this day. Investigations into Smith’s death resulted in his wife, Libby Holman, being charged with first-degree murder, although the case was suddenly dropped. Even now, it is unknown whether Smith’s death was accidental or intentional, a mystery that this exhibit seeks to unravel piece by piece.
Flash Point: The Civil Rights Photography of Danny Lyon (Through January 3, 2027): As part of America 250, this exhibit features a collection of photographs of the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960s. Danny Lyon’s photos captured the violence against those who fought for civil rights, as well as moments including the organizers, planners, and others involved in the struggle.

Previous Exhibits

Previous exhibits at Reynolda House have included Still I Rise: The Black Experience at Reynolda. This was a historical examination of the Black community in Reynolda, modeled after Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” which used Reynolda as its setting.

This exhibit tells the stories of the Black men and women who played a pivotal role in creating and shaping Reynolda House. Art, letters, photographs, and audiovisual recordings weave together a reflective picture of the Black experience at Reynolda.

Ready to Visit the Reynolda House Museum of American Art?

We visit the Reynolda House Museum of American Art any time we’re in the Winston-Salem area and will keep coming back for more. This truly is a treasure and worthy of anyone’s NC bucket list, including our own!

If you’re familiar with this special place in Winston-Salem, we’d love to hear from you. Share your experiences in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more NC travel adventures!

Things to Do Nearby

If you have more time to explore the area, there are even more things to do near the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Reynolda Gardens

Address: 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, NC

The Reynolda Gardens have been part of the Reynolda estate since the very beginning, comprising 16 acres, including a man-made lake, golf course, formal gardens, greenhouses, and woods. The Gardens enclose Reynolda House on all sides.

While Reynolda’s landscape has changed over the past century, the original vision of the Gardens remains intact. In 1953, Charles Babcock donated the Gardens to Wake Forest University, which wanted to use the grounds as a space for reflection and leisure in honor of his late wife, Mary.

The 134-acre Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University is now a peaceful outdoor haven open to the public from sunrise to sunset daily.

Built in 1913 by the renowned conservatory makers Lord & Burnham, the greenhouse underwent a full restoration completed in October 2024 and reopened as the Brown Family Conservatory, named for donors Malcolm and Patricia Brown.

The bright, airy greenhouse features a broad floral display, including orchids, bromeliads, cacti, aroids, and palms.

Over two miles of trails and paved paths weave through the grounds, perfect for walking or jogging. The trail winds through woodlands and an open meadow past a small but picturesque waterfall.

Visitors can easily spend an afternoon exploring Reynolda’s outdoor grounds.

The final aspect of the expansive grounds is the Formal Gardens, a highly curated space divided into four quadrants. Each section has a unique theme:

The Pink & White Garden
The West Rose Garden
The East Rose Garden
The Blue & Yellow Garden

You’ll find gorgeous Japanese-style tea houses, pergolas, two fountains, and more throughout the Formal Gardens. These structures and details come together to form a private, peaceful space.

Reynolda Village

Address: 2201 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC

The adjacent Reynolda Village is a historic neighborhood of charming buildings that once supported the Reynolds estate. The buildings resemble that of an English village and used to house businesses such as a post office, blacksmith shop, dairy barn, and more.

Today, Reynolda Village is a thriving mix of shops, restaurants, and boutiques that welcome visitors to shop or browse. The village has created an unmatched environment with twinkling outdoor patio lights, secluded pathways, and a chic atmosphere.

Some shops at Reynolda Village include:

All Through the House: home furnishings and gifts
Half Past Three: a boho-contemporary fusion clothing store
Painter’s Palette: art studio and gallery
The Bookhouse: an independent store

After a day of exploring Reynolda House and Gardens, you’ll likely be ready for dinner! Reynolda Village has a delicious array of restaurants to choose from:

More Winston-Salem Attractions

While Reynolda is one of the best places to see in Winston-Salem, it is far from the only thing to do in this Central NC city.

Winston-Salem is a bustling city, with a rich history to dive into and fun things to do.

First, visiting Old Salem is a must if you’ve never been. Before 1913, Winston and Salem were two distinct cities, merging as the two settlements grew. This preserved village provides a glimpse into 18th-century Moravian life.

Downtown Winston-Salem is a colorful explosion of art and culture. Several murals and art galleries are scattered throughout downtown. The Downtown Arts District is between Trade & Liberty Street, filled with working studios and galleries and a great place to soak in the city’s creativity.

SECCA Winston Salem — SECCA in Winston-Salem

North Carolina Museum of Art Winston-Salem (formerly SECCA) is another great thing to do in Winston-Salem. The Museum’s Marguerite Drive location closed in 2026 for construction, but a smaller exhibition and program space continues the mission of stewarding and sharing the “People’s Collection.”

More Things to Do Near Reynolda House

We’ve created many more NC travel guides that feature the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and these nearby Winston-Salem attractions! Here are a few of them.