Relax at the Old Salem Museums and Gardens in North Carolina

Old Salem Museum and Gardens

Winston Marshal — Winston-Salem, North Carolina has a lot of history and one of the best places to take a glimpse into the past is at the Old Salem Museum and Gardens. If you have ever wondered what it would have been like to live in the early South, this is the closest thing to time travel that will allow you to find out.

This attraction is a collection of restored and reconstructed buildings where interpreters will greet you dressed in period clothing. This superb historical attraction is designed to give visitors an idea of what Moravian life would have been like back in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. It also boasts some lovely gardens that are the perfect setting for spending a quiet and relaxing afternoon.

One of the best things about visiting a place is learning about its unique and fascinating history; so why not take the time to inform yourself about the many interesting stories from the past of this community?

Walking through the past

There are many opportunities to learn about life in the past at the Old Salem Museum and Gardens. The interpreters play the role of cobblers, carpenters, bakers, blacksmiths, and tinsmiths, sharing insight with visitors about what their jobs are like and how they perform their duties. As you walk through the village, you can watch them practice their trade and interact with them.

The Old Salem Museum and Gardens is not just a recreated “Disneyland” version of a historical village, but actually a restoration of the actual buildings themselves. Approximately 70 percent of the buildings within this historic area are the original constructions. Looking closely at the architecture gives you a lot of information about how buildings were made during this era.

Events and education

This living history museum offers plenty of opportunities for fun and entertainment. Every week there are storytelling sessions, hands-on activities, music concerts, special events and more. This is a great place to bring the kids, because they will be so entertained by the interactive storytelling sessions that they won’t even realize they are learning about history.

One of the most popular events at the Old Salem Museum and Gardens are the children’s puppet shows. They are held at the Heirloom Puppet Theater within the Frank L. Horton Museum. The puppet shows are only $2 per person and they are held at every half hour between 10am and 12:30pm. The puppet shows feature stories from Salem’s history or tales from Cherokee folklore.

The historical site also offers plenty of different tours so that you can learn about the history of Salem with commentary from the trained and knowledgeable guides. There is an Afterhours Twilight Tour, a Garden Tour, and African American Heritage Tour and much more.

Don’t forget the historic homes

Of course, the Old Salem Museum and Gardens is not the only historical attraction in the city. Salem also has a treasure trove of gorgeous old homes. Why not take a walking tour around to some of these impressive architectural highlights?

Enjoy your trip back in time in peaceful and pleasant Winston-Salem, North Carolina.



About the Author

Winston Marshal is a freelance writer and history enthusiast who has a part time job giving architectural history workshops.