All about Winston-Salem
We have been sure to give you some free time during your visit. Below is information on interesting things to see and do around Winston-Salem, and much is within walking distance from your hotel. If you decide to venture farther out, you will need to arrange your own transportation. The hotel concierge will be able to help you, as well.
The Arts District
More Art & Historical Places
Retro Cool
See and be Seen
Moravian History
What makes W-S special
On the map
W-S Info Links
The Arts District
Winston-Salem is often referred to as the "City of the Arts," in part because of its history, in having the first arts council in the United States, founded in 1949, and for the local art schools and attractions. These include the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Piedmont Opera Theater, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Stevens Center for the Performing Arts, and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts. There are many galleries and workshops in the city's art district centered at Sixth and Trade streets. In fact, Winston-Salem ranks first nationally in per capita contributions to the arts.
Since 1985, artists and craftsmen have renovated the old brick buildings into a cluster of vibrant studios and galleries where one may see works in progress and purchase directly from the artists. The Art District also includes several blocks surrounding this area where Winston-Salem's urban renewal movement is evident. The shops and galleries offer a diverse selection of merchandise, from one-of-a-kind decorative and functional crafts, original art and custom-designed jewelry to clothing, home accessories, gifts, antiques and more.
According to Richard Emmett, local music entrepreneur, "In the late 1800s, Trade Street was a significant nexus for the development of Old Time String Band music of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge region. A distinct music culture developed around the tobacco warehouses along Trade and Liberty streets, when farmers stayed for days selling their harvest. Musicians of all races would mingle for long evenings of music and merrymaking after the close of the tobacco markets. This formed the basis for a variety of regional musical styles that would later emerge, including acoustic Piedmont Blues, Bluegrass and Country. Ernest Thompson was a familiar sight on Trade Street in the 20s and 30s, dressed in a suit coat with a black bow tie. Outside the huge walls of Brown's tobacco warehouse, the blind guitarist and harmonica player often set up a chair and played popular music of the day. Other significant musicians to play the area regularly were Blind Boy Fuller, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Blake and Preston Fulp".
Many businesses are housed in historic buildings that are characteristic to Winston-Salem's past and present. The heart of the Arts District is the intersection of Sixth and Trade Streets, an area once known for its thriving tobacco market. The buildings that once housed Pleasants Hardware and Cox Feed & Seed at the turn of the century now house art galleries, studios, lofts and offices. Some of the original trade shops from the 1930's still remain in business today.
www.dadaws.org
More Art & Historical Places
R.J. and Katharine Smith Reynolds and their descendants are interwoven into the fabric of our community. While their contributions are many, one of the most prominent is Reynolda House, Museum of American Art, which houses a permanent collection dating from 1755 to the present, including works by Jacob Lawrence, Jasper Johns, Frederic Church, Thomas Eakins and Georgia O'Keeffe. If time permits, visit beautiful nearby Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village, a collection of elegant shops, boutiques and restaurants in the former outbuildings and workshops of the Reynolda estate.
Retro Cool
Inspired in Winston-Salem… retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend art. Check out Art-o-mat’s web site for sites around Winston-Salem…
www.artomat.org
See and be Seen
Many notable people and places call Winston-Salem home. Maya Angelou, world-renowned poet featured during President William “Bill” Clinton's inauguration, is also a Wake Forest University professor and local resident. And Wake Forest University houses famous poet-in-residence, Jane Mead. Thomas H. Davis' Piedmont Aviation, later Piedmont Airlines and today US Airways, called Winston-Salem home. And we still lay claim to Champion Industries, a Sara Lee Corporation, and T.W. Garner Food Company (makers of Texas Pete hot sauce).
back to topMoravian History
The real folks who deserve credit for putting us on the map are the Moravians who traveled south on the Great Wagon Road over 250 years ago. In 1753, this group of German-speaking Protestants established a small village and farming center in the North Carolina piedmont. Today, this settlement is known as Historic Bethabara Park and is a National Historic Landmark. In 1766, some Bethabara residents traveled farther south to found what is now Old Salem. This “living history museum,” an authentic restoration, can best be explored through the official tour, which includes colorful costumed characters providing a glimpse of yesteryear and a story or two. No trip to Old Salem is complete, however, without a trip to Winkler Bakery, established in 1800 and still serving, on a daily basis, delicious baked goods fresh from the wood-fired oven.
What makes Winston-Salem special…
Southern hospitality is always just around the corner in Winston-Salem. There's always time for a hello, the time of day and a discussion on the weather, and there's no better place than over lunch or dinner at one of our many dining establishments. If you're hankering for barbecue, try Little Richard’s for the best vittles this side of Lexington. If you’re craving the finer things, consider an evening of fine dining at Noble's Grill or the Zevely House. The Village Tavern in Reynolda Village or The Old Filling Station offer the best outdoor dining experiences in town. And to satisfy that sweet tooth, don’t leave Winston-Salem without sampling the scrumptious goodies at Dewey's or Ollie's Bakery, or trying the incomparable Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookies.
back to topOn the map…
Winston-Salem is located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean beaches. It is easily accessible by car via Interstate 40, Business Interstate 40, Interstate 77, Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 52. Scheduled air service is available through Piedmont Triad International Airport just 20 minutes east of Winston-Salem.
Visit the links below to discover more about Winston-Salem.
www.dwsp.org
www.twincityquarter.com
www.visitwinstonsalem.com