How One Southern City Illuminates 250 Years of the American Experience

As America approaches its 250th birthday, most eyes will turn to the familiar Revolutionary hot spots—D.C., Boston, Philadelphia. Yet Winston-Salem offers a different kind of stage: authentic, approachable, and unhurried—yet rich with nationally significant stories that invite a deeper look.

Here, vivid, immersive experiences trace the nation’s evolution—from colonial settlement and industrial power to civil-rights breakthroughs and today’s 21st-century transformation. We can help you craft a custom, era-by-era itinerary that brings American history to life. Click here to submit your travel request and we’ll handle the details. 

In the meantime, explore below to see how Winston-Salem illuminates 250 years of the American experience—seamlessly blending past and present.

Colonial America: 

Pre-Revolution and the Early South (1750-1865)

1753: Bethabara is founded, becoming the first Moravian settlement in the South

Why it matters: Seeking religious freedom and communal life, German-speaking Moravians traveled 500 miles from Pennsylvania down the Great Wagon Road to the North Carolina frontier. Their first settlement, Bethabara, quickly flourished—creating the nation’s first medicinal garden, building the oldest-standing Moravian church (the Gemeinhaus), and developing a robust trade network that shaped early life on the American frontier.

Experience it today: Historic Bethabara Park brings this 18th-century story to life with guided tours, trails, historic gardens, archaeological ruins, costumed interpreters, a reconstructed fort and buildings, and the original Gemeinhaus. Begin at the Welcome Center, where a short orientation video sets the stage for exploring one of America’s most resilient—and best-preserved—frontier communities.

1766: Moravians establish the town of Salem, quietly shaping the city—and nation—we know today

Why it matters: After establishing nearby Bethabara, the Moravians founded Salem as their new permanent home—a communal town rooted in faith and skilled trades—and it quickly became a cultural and economic hub of the Southern colonies. Far ahead of its time, Salem introduced a series of American “firsts”: Salem College, the nation’s oldest women’s college (1772); one of the earliest central-water systems (1778); and the first recognized piece of classical music in America (1789). In 1783, residents staged the country’s first documented July 4th celebration, a tradition that continues today. President George Washington even stayed two nights in 1791 to study the innovative waterworks.

Experience today: Old Salem, just a mile from downtown, features more than 100 original and restored buildings, costumed interpreters, and hands-on activities reflecting Colonial trades and culture. Begin at the Visitor Center, then cross the iconic Heritage Bridge into the 18th century to explore landmarks such as the Single Brothers House, Salem Tavern, and the iconic Winkler Bakery.
While in Old Salem, don't miss MESDA, a world-class museum housing a treasure trove of Southern decorative arts. And for something unique, schedule a “vault tour” of the Moravian Archives, home to thousands of rare manuscripts, including an original copy of The Star-Spangled Banner.

1865: Emancipation is announced at St. Philips Moravian Church in Salem

Why it matters: Founded in 1823 as a worship space for enslaved and free Black Moravians, St. Philips became a powerful symbol of faith and resilience. On May 21, 1865, a Union chaplain stood before its congregation and read the Emancipation Proclamation, formally announcing their freedom. Many newly freed residents settled in Happy Hill—North Carolina’s first planned Black neighborhood—where a thriving community soon took root. Decades earlier, the life of Peter Oliver had foreshadowed that moment: an enslaved Moravian potter who, with the community’s support, traveled to Pennsylvania in 1800 to purchase his freedom and returned to Salem as a respected craftsman. His story reveals both the limitations and the rare opportunities for Black residents in early Salem and remains one of the settlement’s most compelling chapters.

Experience Today: Old Salem’s African-American history comes alive at the St. Philips Heritage Center, with its stone-etched Remembrance Wall and the restored slave graveyard, Negro’s God’s Acre. Follow the "Hidden Town Initiative" to explore the lives of African Americans who lived and worked throughout Salem. Less than a mile away, the story continues in Happy Hill and the  Shotgun House Legacy, where exhibits and oral histories preserve the community’s cultural roots. Meanwhile, Peter Oliver’s legacy will soon be honored at the Peter Oliver Pavilion, a public park rising on the land he once farmed just north of Old Salem that will feature educational exhibits and displays of his pottery.

The Boom Years: 

The Age of Industry, Progress, and Unification (1875-1930)

1875: R.J. Reynolds opens his first tobacco factory—igniting Camel City’s rise

Why it matters: When 24-year-old R.J. Reynolds arrived in Winston in 1875, he opened a modest tobacco factory on a plot barely the size of a tennis court. By 1900 his company produced a quarter of the nation’s chewing tobacco, and in 1913 it revolutionized the industry with Camel cigarettes, the first nationally marketed brand. Camels became a global sensation, earning Winston the nickname “Camel City” and making it one of America’s tobacco capitals. By Reynolds’ death in 1918, his empire spanned more than 120 buildings—and the company remains headquartered here today.

Experience: Winston-Salem has reimagined this legacy by transforming those former factories into the Innovation Quarter (IQ)—a 330-acre urban research park and one of the nation’s fastest-growing—is home to dozens of biotech and tech companies, including the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). This global pioneer was the first to engineer and implant lab-grown organs in human patients and continues to break ground in 3D bioprinting, biochips, and bioengineering.

Beyond cutting-edge science, the IQ doubles as a lively social hub. At its center, the repurposed Bailey Power Plant buzzes with Incendiary Brewing, Cugino Forno Pizzeria, and the open-air Coal Pit, where concerts echo beneath the iconic smokestacks that still frame east downtown.

1901: Hanes is founded, stitching together a textile legacy

Why it matters: The city's textile story was already spinning long before Hanes became a household name. In 1836, the Salem Manufacturing Company marked the city’s first major step toward industrialization—one of the South’s earliest textile mills and among the first to use electric lights. That groundwork paved the way for brothers Pleasant and John Wesley Hanes, who launched P.H. Hanes Knitting and Shamrock Mills (later Hanes Hosiery) in 1901. Their companies thrived and eventually merged into today’s Hanesbrands, a global leader in apparel that's carrying forward nearly two centuries of textile innovation.

Experience: The original sawtooth-roof factory that housed Shamrock Mills now contains the Sawtooth School for Visual Art, a vibrant hub of galleries, studios, and one-night “Taste of Art” classes in ceramics, painting, and more. Its jagged skylights—once designed to light the factory floor—gave the building its name. The Sawtooth School is now part of the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, which also includes the Hanesbrands Theatre. Meanwhile, just down the road, the former Salem Manufacturing mill has been reborn as the Historic Brookstown Inn, where a museum-style lobby exhibit showcases the city’s Gilded Age textile boom. The hotel’s 71 rooms offer a rare overnight connection to Winston’s industrial roots, allowing you to immerse yourself in the era.

1913: A year of unification: Twin towns merge into one

Why it matters: Though only a mile apart, Winston and Salem developed distinct identities. Founded by Moravian settlers in 1766, Salem was a spiritual, communal town; Winston, established in 1849, grew quickly as an industrial center. By the early 1900s their borders blurred, but their cultures stayed worlds apart. In 1913 the two officially merged as Winston-Salem, a name forever linked by a hyphen. A historic marker at First and Main streets still notes the original dividing line.

Experience: Opening in 2026, MUSE Winston-Salem will complete the city’s historical arc. While Old Salem interprets early Moravian life, MUSE explores the broader civic story—spotlighting the 1913 merger and the city’s 20th-century growth—through interactive exhibits and community-driven storytelling. Located along the Downtown Strollway (the mile-long greenway connecting Old Salem and downtown), MUSE will sit beside the aforementioned Peter Oliver Pavilion, linking these pivotal chapters of the city’s past and present.

1917: Reynolda opens, blending health, beauty and innovation

Why it matters: Designed by Katharine Smith Reynolds, wife of R.J. Reynolds, Reynolda was more than a family home—it was a model of Progressive Era ideals. Inspired by the American Country House movement, Katharine created a 1,000-acre estate promoting health, education, and innovation. She hired leading architects and landscape designers to bring her vision to life: a self-sustaining estate complete with model farms, formal gardens, and housing for workers. The family moved in late 1917, just months before R.J.’s death in 1918, and remained in the house for several decades.

Experience: Fifty years after opening, Reynolda became a public art museum, now home to a celebrated collection of American masterpieces. Through year’s end, its Camel City exhibit delves into the Reynolds family’s rise and enduring local and global legacy. Beginning in January, part of the historic house will close for renovations, but the Babcock Gallery and museum store will stay open. So will Reynolda Gardens—free and open daily—with lush trails and a restored greenhouse, along with the estate’s charming Reynolda Village of shops and cafés.

1929: The iconic Reynolds Building opens as the tallest building in the South

Why it matters: Winston-Salem’s skyline soared in the 1920s, culminating in the 22-story Reynolds Building—an Art Deco masterpiece and the tallest structure south of Washington, D.C. when it opened. Designed by Shreve & Lamb, the building served as the prototype for New York’s Empire State Building, earning Winston-Salem national architectural acclaim. It housed the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s headquarters and stood as a symbol of the city’s roaring economic rise.

Experience: Reimagined as the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in 2015, the building retains its original grandeur. The 174-room boutique hotel features The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, a chic French-inspired restaurant named after Katharine Reynolds. With marble floors, soaring ceilings, and a swanky cocktail bar, it’s one of downtown’s best places to dine or grab a drink—open to guests and non-guests alike.

Modern America:  

Civil Rights, Innovation & the Creative Economy (1960-present)

1960: Local Civil Rights sit-in sparks change nationwide

Why it matters: In February 1960, black and white college students from Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest staged a nonviolent sit-in at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter downtown. Their protest grew to dozens and succeeded in desegregating the counter by May 23—making Winston-Salem the first Southern city to do so voluntarily. This quiet but powerful victory fueled other movements nationwide, including a historic sit-down movement in nearby Greensboro that was happening simultaneously. Momentum continued in 1964 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited town, delivering a fiery speech to over 1,000 people, calling for unity and justice.

Experience: Triad Cultural Arts leads immersive Heritage Tours exploring Winston-Salem’s African American and Civil Rights history via trolley or walking tours. Historic markers now honor the original Woolworth’s sit-in site (Fourth & Liberty) and the church where MLK spoke (AME Zion, East Fourth & Dunleith), preserving a powerful legacy of resilience, courage, and progress. 

• Bonus: Just 30 minutes away, the International Civil Rights Museum preserves the original Woolworth’s counter from Greensboro’s iconic 1960 sit-in. Powerful exhibits, images, and interactive displays expand on the Civil Rights movement nationwide, helping paint the full picture of the era.

1965: Winston-Salem opens America’s first public arts college

Why it matters: In 1965, Winston-Salem became home to the nation’s first state-supported arts conservatory: the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Two years earlier, the N.C. General Assembly proposed a bold idea—an elite public school for young artists. Several cities vied for it, but Winston-Salem sealed the deal when citizens raised nearly $1 million in just two days. That effort was led in part by the local Arts Council—founded in 1949 as the first in the country—which helped establish the city’s lasting identity as a national arts leader.

Experience: Just two miles south of downtown, UNCSA hosts public performances, screenings, and student showcases throughout the year. While visiting campus, explore Studio Village, a backlot-style setting for student films. Across the city, discover Arts Council-supported organizations, including the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, a/perture cinema, and the vibrant Arts District—proof that the city’s creative spirit remains strong. 

1989: The world’s premier Black Theatre Festival debuts

Why it matters: Founded by the charismatic Larry Leon Hamlin—with support from fellow Winston-Salem resident Maya Angelou—the International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF) launched in 1989 and instantly made history. Called “one of the most culturally significant events in American theatre” by The NY Times, it drew Black theatre companies from across the globe to Winston-Salem. 

Experience: Held every two years in the late summer, the festival continues to generate international acclaim while bringing world-class theatre acts to town. Held in the late summer, it takes over Winston-Salem every two years with 100+ performances, panels, and star-studded events. Between festivals, the North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep)—its founding organization—hosts dynamic productions year-round.

2013: The city's past meets its future in the Innovation Quarter

Why it matters: Once the industrial engine of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Winston-Salem’s former factory district reemerged in 2013 as the Innovation Quarter—now one of America’s fastest-growing urban research parks. The transformation began with the $100 million Wake Forest Biotech Place, repurposing a former tobacco warehouse into a hub of medical innovation. Soon after came other big-ticket projects: Bailey Park, Plant 64, and 525@Vine, all blending historic preservation with new ideas. That same year, the district (originally known as Piedmont Triad Research Park) was renamed the Innovation Quarter (IQ), symbolizing Winston-Salem’s evolution.

Experience: The 330-acre district is now a vibrant mix of workspaces and recreation. Stroll the Long Branch Trail—a 2.2-mile greenway winding past art, rail trestles, and reimagined buildings. Relax or attend an event at Bailey Park, the district’s 1.6-acre lawn and social hub. Or grab a bite, sip a local beer, and unwind at Bailey Power Plant and the adjacent Coal Pit—where Winston-Salem’s story of reinvention can be seen, felt, and experienced.

Ready to explore the Great American story—Winston-Salem style?  From revolution to reinvention, Winston-Salem mirrors the American journey. We can help craft a custom itinerary that brings 250 years of U.S. history to life through the city's people, places, and pivotal moments. Click here to submit your travel request, and we'll get to work! 

Bonus Moments: Local History with National Relevance

1937: Two iconic products are born in Winston-Salem: T.W. Garner Foods begins selling Texas Pete Hot Sauce commercially, while America’s first Krispy Kreme opens in Old Salem. TODAY, you can stop by the flagship Krispy Kreme on Stratford Road; visit local barbecue joints along our BBQ Trail, all of which stock Texas Pete.

1956: Wake Forest relocates to Winston-Salem and becomes a national leader in academics. TODAY, stroll Wake's iconic Hearn Plaza ("the Quad"), visit the on-campus LAM Museum of Anthropology, and take in a WFU football or basketball game. See more on Wake Forest here.

2003: The nearby Yadkin Valley becomes North Carolina’s first federally recognized wine region. TODAY, Winston-Salem is your gateway to the wine country, with more than 45 wineries within a 45-minute drive. You can plan your itinerary here.