Old Salem Museums and Gardens

I was there for the first time on Valentine’s Day 2014 with my parents and my grandfather. For my first time, I loved to see all around the area of the Historic District. It was very cold that day, but I still enjoyed my time there. I would defiantly shall go back again some day.

Old Salem is such a charming way to spend an afternoon! I found it on Tripadvisor when looking for things to do in Winston-​Salem. My local Winston-​Salem friend’s one piece of advice was to try the cookies at the Winkler Bakery so we made a beeline for that as soon as we arrived. The ginger Moravian cookie was super crispy thin and crunchy and not too ginger-​y: delish. We ended up buying a small tin of lemon Moravian cookies to bring home with us.
Free things to do at Old Salem: park at the visitor’s center, walk around inside to learn about Salem’s history (dating back to the 1700s!), explore the very organized gardens full of chard and chives and cabbage, most of the shops, the old firehouse, the cemetery (called «God’s Acre») and up and down the cobblestone streets. There were plenty of people walking around dressed in the traditional Moravian wear, and a horse-​drawn carriage. The entire thing takes about an hour to walk through, longer if you go through the exhibits or browse at the shops. There are signs on the doors of the exhibits/​activities/​buildings (like the gunsmith, gardener’s building, etc) that require a paid ticket and I appreciated that they were pretty clear about when a ticket was required or not.
My favorite thing about Old Salem: the covered bridge with Moravian stars! When we left Old Salem around dusk, the stars were all lit up and glowing. I’d love to come back to this historical town when we have more time to buy tickets so that we can explore more of the exhibits, and to try the food at the Tavern!

What a beautiful little area to spend a crisp sunny fall afternoon. My best friend and I drove out to Winston Salem for lunch and stopped at the Saturday morning farmers market in Old Salem on the way considering it was still early. We cruised up and down the beautiful cobblestone streets and enjoyed strolling through the farmers market. It’s much more «gourmet» than the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market off of Sandy Ridge Road but much smaller in size and vendors. On the pricey side but the quality seemed totally worth it. We enjoyed sampling tea, coffee, goat cheeses and vegetables. The gardens are pretty but probably much more lush and colorful in the spring/​summer. I’m wondering if they decorate for Christmas? I would definitely love to come back to this cute little area at least once during each of the four seasons throughout the year. Beautiful!

There isn’t much that I can say that other Unilocalers haven’t already said, but I felt compelled to review this place because my family was blown away by this place! We were expecting something akin to a pioneer village but were met with something that was more like Colonial Williamsburg.
You can see some of the oldest standing buildings in America and a few near-​perfect replicas. There are living history demonstrations, people in period costumes working in the handful of businesses and even carriage rides available through private companies. Many of the homes are private residences.
There are ample free parking areas and you can walk around without buying a ticket or taking a tour.
Many professional photographers set up shop so-​to-​speak here and you almost trip over them while navigating the uneven stone sidewalks.
There are a few open grassy areas to relax and take in the majestic buildings. There are almost always events during the weekend to take in as well.
If you are anywhere near Winston Salem, you’d be crazy not to stop, even for an hour! Great for families, great for dates, great for strolling by yourself.

This place is a absolute must of you are anywhere within 1.5 hours of it. It is a great place for families and couples alike. So many cozy and quaint streets to stroll up and down. A ton of beautiful picture opportunities. It is so picturesque! I DO think its worth it to buy the tour pass so you can actually go inside all the little areas. Think of it like a smaller scale colonial Williamsburg. You’ll learn a lot there and the people working there tailor their speech to the age group. Lots of cutesy little stores to pop in gift shops and bakery’s etc. You’ll be surprised at how much history is packed into this little town.

Old Salem is truly an amazing corner of the world. Time has been well preserved here and anyone who appreciates history will find themselves in historic heaven.
There are some REALLY old buildings, many dating back to the 1700’s. The community is typical of a small early pioneer settlement and included necessary merchants and facilities such as:
* Gun shop
* Shoemaker shop
* Merchant shops
* Fire Engine House
* Boys School
* Cemetery
* Schools
* Single women’s home
* Single men’s home
* Doctors home
* Blacksmith shop
* Tavern
* Bakery
* A gorgeous Moravian Cemetery
* African American Moravian Log Church and so much more!
ST. PHILIPS AFRICAN MORAVIAN CHURCH
There was so much to see and so many incredible buildings. But of all the buildings, this is the one I want to feature in detail. St. Philips is the oldest African-​American Church still standing in the State of North Carolina and one of the oldest in the nation. As I walked around the property, I was captivated by the grave sites. Most had no names, instead only offering one word descriptions like «Child» or «Adult».
It wasn’t always segregated; both blacks and whites were part of the same church service. History tells us the racist attitudes of some of the people living in the area demanded they not have church together with blacks. While white Moravians did indeed own slaves, they were largely considered as equals in church. Not only did they do church together, they were also buried together as one congregation and schooled together as well. But pressures of the time changed all that when a state law banished educating slaves. Adding to the call for segregation was the desire of the black members to have more lively meetings without restraint, which most likely meant they wanted to sing, shout and dance as the spirit moved them!!! This was something the white congregation pastor disagreed with heavily sighting in old church documents that he didn’t like «noisy church gatherings.» What made me laugh about this piece of history is its largely still that way today. Black churches are indeed a lively place!
The African-​American church split from the main church around 1822. Growth was slow but found itself needing to expand in the 1861 and built a brick church on the properly of a small cemetery. This would be their second location after having moved from a smaller log cabin church. In the 1890’s, limited growth space caused them to build an extension onto the 1861 brick church right over a section of the graveyard! I found that to be alarming, but I suppose they had no choice.
The congregation used the church all the way up until the 1950’s. Part of the history of the church was on Sunday, May 21^st, 1865, a Union soldier (Calvary Chaplin) announced the freedom of the slave community of Salem from the pulpit of this building. According to the church website, it was known as «The Slave Church» until December 1914, when Bishop Edward Rondthaler bestowed upon them the name of St. Philips Moravian Church. It is now 192 years old and one of (if not thee) oldest African-​American congregations in the United States.
At some point, the congregation took the time to go through the church records and find out about as many of the grave sites as possible. Names were added to graves when possible and a large monument sign at the base of the church was dedicated to ALL the names/​graves found. IT TOUCHES MY HEART to see dignity given back to a people who were granted none.
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Graveyard History —

DONUTS
We also discovered the original Krispy Kreme site which opened here on July 13^th, 1937. Interestingly, Krispy Kreme’s founder Vernon Rudolph learned about donuts from his Uncle whom bought a donut shop and French donut recipe in 1933. Vernon’s father bought the business from his brother and opened a total of three shops in the coming years (one in Atlanta). Vernon opened a shop of his own and became so successful that he started franchising them around 1947.
COVERED BRIDGE
Also on site is a gorgeous timber pedestrian covered bridge built in 1998. See my review here:

FINAL THOUGHTS
Truly a spectacular place to visit! We arrived on a Monday and most of the buildings were close, but we had a wonderful time anyway. A few gift shops as well as the Bakery and Tavern were open. We bought a few souvenirs at the gift shop, a square loaf of the signature Moravian sweet bread and a can of crisp lemon cookies. My son insisted on a cook book called ‘Recipes to Die For’ (with a tombstone on the front cover), but we decided to pass on that purchase. I do regret not buying the 26 point star symbolic to Moravians, but they were so pricey @ $ 107. Maybe next time, because we are most certainly planning a return visit.

Whether you partake in the living history exhibits and guided tours or simply walk through and take in the sights on your own, Old Salem will be a place of beauty and enjoyment! The homes, gardens, and working buildings give insight into the lives and experiences of early settlers in the region, as well as their culture and beliefs. Some structures are well preserved while others are excellently restored, and many remain private residences to this day. Make sure to stop by the bakery for a peek into the effort it took to bring bread to the table in the days before electricity and make sure to try some of the pastries offered for a taste of Moravian traditions! The cemetery is a peaceful place for contemplation and reflection as well as a nice walk, and a stroll through the various gardens illustrates the culinary and medicinal plants that nourished and treated for generations. There are various events during the year, with the ones around the Christmas holiday being especially popular, and the changes of each season bring a different experience of days gone by!

First off we didn’t get the tickets to do the tours. We just walked around the town visiting the shops and walked the strollway near by. It was a nice peaceful afternoon and was great to see the older landmarks and get a feel for the city. There was no way I could have spent the whole day there but it made for a nice afternoon.

Great place to visit for history lovers. A ticket gets you access to all of the trades and other buildings that are part of the overall exhibit. I would recommend at least doing this once. It is amazing to see the people here keeping the trades and history alive.
You don’t need a ticket to walk around. A lot of the shops are open to the public, including Winkler Bakery and The Tavern (restaurant).
Dog friendly, except the cemetery, which is understandable.
Just remember, Old Salem is a mixture of the museum and gardens, plus private property. Yes, there is a school there, a church and private residents, so just remember that as you walk around.

While Old Salem is a delightful and informative visit anytime, Christmas is the perfect time for a visit. Period decorations, strolling carolers, and holiday specials make this a must do on your bucket list.

Time for a history lesson. Well, kind of.
Old Salem is a historic district just south of downtown Winston-​Salem. It is the site where a group of Moravians settled in the late 1700s. The Moravians were a group of Protestants from parts of what is known today as the Czech Republic. Old Salem (at the time, just called «Salem») was the epicenter of the Wachovia tract, a large area of land that belonged to the Moravians. Yes, this tract of land is where Wachovia bank all began. Today, this area is now Winston-​Salem and Forsyth County.
Old Salem is an official U.S. National Historic Landmark. The staff participate in living history, meaning they all dress, act, and carry on their daily activities as if it were still the 18^th or 19^th century. So, when you visit Old Salem, it’s like stepping through a time portal and traveling back in time. It can be really neat, especially if you like history. The entire neighborhood looks much like it did over 200 years ago. Many of the buildings and structures are still the original ones built.
One of the great things about Old Salem is you can visit many parts of it for free. It’s easy to get to and parking is free and normally easy to find. There’s a big parking lot near the visitor center, another near the center of the district, and you can park on the streets too. Some of the shops and stores, such as Winkler Bakery and A. Butner Hat Shop, are still in operation today and no ticket is required for entry.
Many of the other houses and buildings require a ticket for entry. If you want to experience everything Old Salem has to offer, buy the all-​in-​one ticket. It’s $ 23 for adults and $ 11 for children. Prices are cheaper on Sunday. Check out Old Salem’s web site for discounts (
). You can save $ 3 off the all-​in-​one ticket if you order online. AAA members get an additional $ 3 off and active military and Triad college students get free admission.
Winkler Bakery is my favorite stop. You can buy Moravian baked goods (breads, pastries) and cookies. They are made using the same recipes that were used in the 1700s, so what you taste is exactly what the townspeople tasted back then. The Moravian sugar cookies and sugar cakes make terrific gifts. It’s fun to watch the bakers at work as it is observing all the other folks carrying out their trades, whether it be the gunsmith or the shoemaker. Other highlights include the Miksch Gardens, Salem Tavern (where George Washington spent two nights in 1791), and the Single Brothers’ House (literally, where all the single men lived).
I remember going to Old Salem as part of a school field trip in middle school. One Christmas in the early 2000s, our family visited Old Salem for Christmas service and listened to the Tannenberg Organ (made by hand in 1800), the largest surviving pipe organ in the world. One of my sisters spent part of her high school years at Salem Academy and one of my nephews just went to Governor’s School, located at Old Salem, last summer (2013).
If you are in the Piedmont Triad and are looking to take in a little history and fun, certainly give Old Salem a look. It is not very big and can be explored in just a couple hours, give or take.

I took my children (ages 7 and 3) to a special performance and reading at Old Salem. What a wonderful resource for our community!
The performer was entertaining, especially with the the orchestra’s accompaniment.
Admission was very reasonable.

I think that if you are in Winston-​Salem, this is a must see. It’s nice to see historic NC. It’s significant for the South, but not Boston…

Air Conditioning! Do know that the small ticket charge to be admitted to the historical buildings includes pleasant air conditioning that makes it so much easier to tour in the hot summer. We had stopped in Old Salem in the past and enjoyed walking around, but had not bought tickets and gone IN the buildings before, thinking what more could they really add? Well, a LOT. DO it! (they take AAA for a discount, by the way, and AARP… we did AAA, so I think it was $ 18 each and it’s nice to know you’re helping support this history!)
Besides the surprise of air conditioning to make it so much more enjoyable, they have fascinating folks in each building that make you feel like you’re stepping back in time. Every one we encountered was excellent and very interesting! From the African-​American church to the Tavern that George Washington visited… this is seriously well done! You can certainly do the gift shops, and walk around for free, but do know it’s worth the small investment to enjoy this thoroughly! Do NOT miss the still-​operating bakery!

This is a great place to visit on a nice Spring day! Wear comfortable shoes because you are going to be walking around a lot. I didn’t go on one of the guided tours I just walked around and made my own sort of tour. If you get hungry you can stop by The Tavern for lunch, their porch is beautiful. Also be sure to stop by the Winkler Bakery!

We spent a lovely fall day post Thanksgiving, not shopping, but enjoying the sights and sounds of this charming historical village. I knew nothing of the Moravian Church when I arrived here, and learned much at the Visitor’s Center. I would recommend making that your first stop, as the people who work there are extremely helpful and friendly, and they have an area map that may come in handy. I enjoyed the historical shops, with their hand made hats and Moravian ginger cookies (ok, I did buy some of those!), and the campus of Salem College is gorgeous. Maybe what I found so compelling about this place is that it’s not just history, but actively involved in the present time. We skipped the food here, so I can’t comment on that, but the smells coming from the restaurant were most enticing.

We went on a day trip from Chapel Hill on a Sunday. Bad idea! Most of the village and the city of Winston-​Salem was closed. We were able to go into some of the buildings, and bought some delicious bread from the bakery, but the whole place was only open a few hours. There probably would have been more to do if we had gone on a different day of the week.

Old Salem is cool and OLD! Historic! Ghost Story Potential! Partly connected to Salem College!
Gift Shops, a Bakery, an Art Gallery, a Moravian Church and a cool Cemetery! Self Guided Tours are free though you do not have access to as many of the places as you do if you buy a ticket (I think I have only been on one «Full Tour» so I have probably been about four times where we went at our own pace and saw plenty for FREE!
To me it is more fun for the crowded Holidays and cooler weather! !! !!! I LOVE Crowds! One Winter one of the guests here seemed to be «seeing» something and was shouting — it was pretty cool and kind of spooky so every time I go back I’m always looking for something unusual

Such a fun place to take family or kids and you can really learn a lot all at the same time. There are plenty of shops and pubs and museums that cater to the old world theme that Old Salem possesses.
All the building are old and date back to the Salem Witch times; almost 250 years ago.
There is a well with a pump that folks will be using in the warmer months to fill water bottles and wash their hands.
There isn’t a lot to say here other than one must experience this for themselves. GO!

Breezed thru yesterday and must return again to spend more time! The lovely old buildings and brick sidewalks are a wonderful step back in time. History comes to life with shopkeepers in period dress, some doing demonstrations too.
We visited T. Bagge Merchant & Garden Shop, which has some of the most unique garden items I’ve seen anywhere. To my surprise I ended up doing some very early x-​mas shopping! We also stopped in the bakery too.
This would be beautiful place to spend the day in the fall when the colors are changing and the temperatures are cooler.