Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina that was originally settled by the Moravian community in 1766. This small city features a living history museum that interprets the restored Moravian community. A non-profit organization began its work in 1950, although some private residents had restored buildings earlier. As the Old Salem Historic District, it was declared a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 1966and expanded in 2016. The district showcases the culture of the Moravian settlement in North Carolina during the 18th and 19th centuries, including communal buildings, churches, houses, and shops.
Salem was originally settled by members of the Moravian Church, a Protestant denomination that first began in 1457, out of the followers of John Huss (Jan Hus, 1369–1415) in the Kingdom of Bohemia and Moravia, now part of the Czech Republic. First settling in North America in Savannah, Georgia in 1735, they moved to Pennsylvania in 1740, where they founded several communities (Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Lititz). Because of development pressures, they looked for more space to create their church communities. They purchased just over 98,985 acres in the Piedmont of North Carolina in 1753 where they began building several communities, including what is now Old Salem.
This map shows the major portion of Old Salem. Basically consisting of two parallel streets, it is easily walkable. While many of the structures are not open to the public (they are private residences) a number of them are open for viewing.
This view reminds us of a trip we took to Old Salem with Doug and Phillis Eastham. We stayed in a historic inn and had dinner in the tavern shown across the street.
A three-foot-tall Lenten Rose, Hellebore!!
One of the many historic gardens in Old Salem.
Red Poppies cover the sides of highways and flourish in gardens.
Pottery making was essential to a self-sufficient community.
The barn of the Single Brothers’ House (1769-1786).
This docent in the Miksch House (1771) is making a salad from the heritage garden.
This Single Brothers’ garden (1769) produced enough vegetables for the 60 men who lived in the Single Brothers’ house.
The grains in the wheelbarrow have been harvested from the heritage gardens and are soon to be a broom.
Many of our heritage seeds available today are from this Herbst Horticulture Center Garden and Seed Saving Lab. Old Salem Horticulture Team researches and acquires, grows, harvests, cleans, and stores seeds.
A representative sample of the extensive collection in the renowned Museum of Early Southern Decretive Arts (MESDA). The rather unsightly yellow stools are for those who wish to closely study the collections.
At first glance, one would think this is a representation of a family tree. In one sense it is, but a family tree of all the Moravian communities around the world! It was created subsequent to the foundation of Old Salem (1753). This remarkable watercolor is new (within the last 5 years) to the museum, having been found in the lid of an old traveling chest.
Cabinet making and joinery were an essential part of early North Carolina, both for utilitarian use and highly prized commissioned work
DianaOnce again… thank you for the free travel to a place I will never visit. Always interesting and educational, envy you guys!ReplyCancel
HaroldDiana, we’re so glad you’re enjoying it…does this mean you’re contributing to the fuel bill…LOL 🙂ReplyCancel
Laura Pace OmerSo beautiful. Love all of this! Thanks for “taking me along”!ReplyCancel
HaroldThanks, Laura. Most pleased you are enjoying it.ReplyCancel
Sherilyn JohnstonBen and I visited Old Salem a LONG time ago! I must say it’s come a long way since then!! Beautiful!ReplyCancel
HaroldSherilyn, it has changed since we visited over 15 years ago. Unfortunately, COVID has had an impact. Many of the buildings are closed or on short hours for lack of staff.ReplyCancel
Fran RoundsJim & I continue to enjoy your posts..I especially treasure the knowledge of plants & fibers that Meriam brings & your expertise on wood, carpentry & joinery. Keep showin’ & tellin’-FranReplyCancel
HaroldThanks, Fran. And give Jim our best.ReplyCancel
Peter WalshInteresting and great images. Wish there were more. Do the current closed residences look proper but have modern facilities inside?ReplyCancel
HaroldPJ, Thanks for the compliment. The closed residences almost certainly have modern fixtures (sinks, toilets, kitchens). The B&B we stayed in over 15 years ago had been modernized. Also, one of the buildings we visited this time, now a part of the Old Salem Trust, had previously been a private residence. The donating owner had modernized.ReplyCancel
TiffanyWe didn’t go to Old Salem this year or last year. This year we just didn’t have time as we were trying to “hurry” through NC to get to VA. Last year, Old Salem’s buildings were completely closed and only the outside could be toured. We found Colonial Williamsburg to be much changed post-Covid as well, unfortunately. Many buildings are still not open, partly due to short staff. There’s also much fewer things going on during the day and evening. Quite a number of shops/dining around town were also closed. I certainly hope that they can recover. I still have Old Salem on our radar for a future trip. I’m glad that some places were open this year for you!ReplyCancel
HaroldSounds like Williamsburg is suffering the aftermath of COVID like many of the places we have visited on this trip. I dare say, not one of them has been fully staffed…this includes the various state and federal campgrounds we have stayed in. Closely related is the number of “help wanted” signs we see. It seems almost every business we pass has a sign advertising for workers.ReplyCancel
Virginia PeveyEnjoying your pictures so much. Stay safe.ReplyCancel
HaroldVirginia, we are so pleased you are enjoying them.ReplyCancel
DianaOnce again… thank you for the free travel to a place I will never visit. Always interesting and educational, envy you guys!
HaroldDiana, we’re so glad you’re enjoying it…does this mean you’re contributing to the fuel bill…LOL 🙂
Laura Pace OmerSo beautiful. Love all of this! Thanks for “taking me along”!
HaroldThanks, Laura. Most pleased you are enjoying it.
Sherilyn JohnstonBen and I visited Old Salem a LONG time ago! I must say it’s come a long way since then!! Beautiful!
HaroldSherilyn, it has changed since we visited over 15 years ago. Unfortunately, COVID has had an impact. Many of the buildings are closed or on short hours for lack of staff.
Fran RoundsJim & I continue to enjoy your posts..I especially treasure the knowledge of plants & fibers that Meriam brings & your expertise on wood, carpentry & joinery. Keep showin’ & tellin’-Fran
HaroldThanks, Fran. And give Jim our best.
Peter WalshInteresting and great images. Wish there were more. Do the current closed residences look proper but have modern facilities inside?
HaroldPJ, Thanks for the compliment. The closed residences almost certainly have modern fixtures (sinks, toilets, kitchens). The B&B we stayed in over 15 years ago had been modernized. Also, one of the buildings we visited this time, now a part of the Old Salem Trust, had previously been a private residence. The donating owner had modernized.
TiffanyWe didn’t go to Old Salem this year or last year. This year we just didn’t have time as we were trying to “hurry” through NC to get to VA. Last year, Old Salem’s buildings were completely closed and only the outside could be toured. We found Colonial Williamsburg to be much changed post-Covid as well, unfortunately. Many buildings are still not open, partly due to short staff. There’s also much fewer things going on during the day and evening. Quite a number of shops/dining around town were also closed. I certainly hope that they can recover. I still have Old Salem on our radar for a future trip. I’m glad that some places were open this year for you!
HaroldSounds like Williamsburg is suffering the aftermath of COVID like many of the places we have visited on this trip. I dare say, not one of them has been fully staffed…this includes the various state and federal campgrounds we have stayed in. Closely related is the number of “help wanted” signs we see. It seems almost every business we pass has a sign advertising for workers.
Virginia PeveyEnjoying your pictures so much. Stay safe.
HaroldVirginia, we are so pleased you are enjoying them.