Decorative Arts Center in Old Salem

Winston-Salem is part of a region of north central North Carolina that includes Greensboro and High Point. The oldest town is Old Salem, which was founded in the 18th Century by the Moravians.

The industrial city of Winston was founded in the 19th Century to serve as the headquarters of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Hanes Mills, a textile mill. The towns were not formally merged until the early 20th Century. In the 1920’s Winston-Salem was the largest city in the state. The Metropolitan area now includes portions of five counties.

In the 1940’s Piedmont Airlines was formed and kept its headquarters there until it was merged into USAir. A lot of people still fondly remember the quality service it provided to small local airports in North Carolina. In the 1950’s Wake Forest University moved from the town of Wake Forest to Winston-Salem. Other schools include Winston-Salem University, UNC School of the Arts, and Salem College.

Reynolda House Reynolda Gardens

Winston-Salem’s two main tourist attractions are Old Salem and the Reynolda House, the former home of R.J. Reynolds. It now is an art museum. Old Salem includes many of the original buildings from the old town. The Reynolda House includes a large garden and a small shopping village that formerly housed RJR employees. The house has lots of cross-ventilation and windows to provide fresh air. That was a big design factor in the 1920’s. The private nearby Graylyn Manor House and Conference Center also dates from the 1920’s but was built to look like a 15th Century Normal Castle. The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art is located on the former James G. Hanes 32-acre estate.

The Decorative Arts Center is in Old Salem, but it is a modern collection of furniture and other decorative pieces from the Old South.

Salem College Old Salem Building Old Salem Building Old Salem House

Thanksgiving and Christmas time are the favorite times to visit Old Salem to sample the foods and the 18th Century decorations. Be sure to stop first at the Visitor Center across NC 52 to see the organ, get maps, and tickets to visit the interiors of the buildings. Plenty of parking is available.

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