Old Salem Museums & Gardens

Wandering through Old Salem felt like stepping into an 18th-century Moravian village. I was captivated by the aroma of fresh Moravian sugar cake from Winkler Bakery and loved chatting with artisans in authentic shops. The period-dressed interpreters and beautiful gardens made history come alive. A peaceful, charming, and unexpectedly immersive visit—one of my favorite NC experiences!

Absolutely loved walking around here and learning from all the wonderful historical interpreters. My wife and I stayed at the nearby Brookstown Inn and in the evenings we walked down here after dinner just to enjoy the vibes. If you are buying a ticket to actually go inside the houses I would recommend the all access pass because there’s truly so much to see if you enjoy history, I believe you can definitely make a full day out of it.

Visiting Old Salem this past weekend was like stepping into a living time capsule, and it was pure magic. As a proud Salem College alum, returning to the community brought back so many cherished memories, but experiencing it through the eyes of my son and the rest of our tour group (which included a bunch of adolescent boys!) made it even more special. The historical interpreters—every single one—were phenomenal, keeping both the kids and adults engaged with their storytelling and knowledge. I want to give an extra special shout-out to Brother DJ and Sister Stacy in the Salem Tavern, who absolutely stole the show. Their passion, warmth, and authenticity made us feel like we had truly traveled back in time. Thank you, Old Salem, for preserving this history and sharing it in such a meaningful and memorable way. We'll be talking about this visit for a long time to come!

Another FIVE-STAR experience in Winston-Salem, strolling through Old Salem Museums & Gardens during the late afternoon hours. We checked into the Historic Brookstown Inn and walked three blocks up to the South Main Street entry point to Old Salem (the location of the historic Mickey Coffee Pot Maker). Easy! Old Salem is an immersive experience offering beautifully preserved and interpreted 18th-19th century history, I was surprised to see a marker on the property where the first Krispy Kreme doughnut store WAS located (see photo). Obviously not 18th-19th history, but still important NC history (love those doughnuts!). Old Salem is perfect for families, history buffs, or anyone who appreciates the heritage and period architecture. Be sure to check out Winkler Bakery, still in operation since 1800! Check out the shops, homes, schools, churches, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

We had a fantastic visit today! The staff was incredibly knowledgeable, making it a truly enriching and enjoyable field trip.

This place is so pretty and there’s so much history!! Lots of photo opportunities.

This is a living museum for those who enjoy history, walking and exploring. We came to the event a couple of hours before closing. We enjoyed everything we saw. We didn't get to see everything but we saw a good bit. There were so many original artifacts. It was very impressive to see. I loved hearing the costumed presenters were well versed and friendly to talk with at each building. A couple of building were not open, but it was still very enjoyable. I recommend this museum and living museum activity. Be prepared for walking it is mostly walking around a neighborhood going in and out of exhibits. Takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to see it all.

Excellent place to walk and know more about the history of the place. We got to enjoy the demonstrations inside the houses and how knowledgeable the presenters were. They took their historical roles seriously. You actually take the whole day walking the place. We arrived at 11 am on a Thursday and left at 4pm. We couldn't visit two places, so advice arriving at 10 am. Be mindful that houses go to lunch around 12 m, so you need to wait until 1:15 pm to keep visiting the houses. It was a great experience.