National Historic Landmark

Old Salem Historic District

Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina
Listed
November 13, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000591

About this property

Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, which was originally settled by the Moravian community in 1766. It features a living-history museum which interprets the restored Moravian community. The 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 1966, and expanded fifty years later. The district showcases the culture of the Moravian settlement in the Province of North Carolina during the colonial 18th century and post-statehood 19th century via its communal buildings, churches, houses and shops. Two buildings are individually designated as NHLs: the Salem Tavern and the Single Brothers' House. Additional buildings and properties have been added to the National Register to expand the historic area (see St. Philips Moravian Church below, Single Brothers Industrial Complex Site and West Salem Historic District). Ownership of the buildings and land is divided among Old Salem, Inc., Wachovia Historical Society, private owners, Salem College, Salem Academy and Salem Congregation (the successor to the Salem Congregational Council, to whom all ownership of Church properties was transferred).

Location

600 S. Main St. (Salem College campus and area near Salem Sq.)
Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina
36.08683, -80.24109

Categories

ARCHEOLOGYBLACKEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTEDUCATIONHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTINDUSTRYCOMMERCEEUROPEANARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Old Salem Historic District

This page lists Old Salem Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Single Brothers' House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Salem Tavern
Early Republic
0.1 mi
St. Philip's Moravian Church
Industrial
0.2 mi
Brickenstein-Leinbach House
Industrial
0.3 mi
South Trade Street Houses
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Stoneman's Raid — Germantown (Midway) NC
1865Civil War
2.9 mi
Battle of Shallow Ford (NC Yadkin, 1781)
1781Revolutionary War
11.3 mi
Battle of Shallow Ford
1781Revolutionary War
11.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Salem Historic District listed on the National Register?

Old Salem Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Old Salem Historic District?

Old Salem Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Old Salem Historic District a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Old Salem Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Old Salem Historic District?

The period of significance for Old Salem Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Old Salem Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old Salem Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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