Winston-Salem Tourist Attractions
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In the double town of Winston-Salem is the world's largest cigarette factory (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company). The historic district of Salem, founded by the Moravian Brethren in 1766, has been handsomely restored. This is also where you will find the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, which displays art and furniture of the period from 1690 to 1820, set out in 21 exhibition rooms. The Museum of American Art is housed in the mansion of the Reynolds tobacco family.Winston-Salem is also a university town, home to Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University, along with Salem College.
SciWorks
For an educational and fun outing, be sure to visit SciWorks when in Winston-Salem. This science museum has great displays, many of which are interactive. SciWorks also has a state of the art Planetarium that seats 120 people. The fun isn't limited to inside either; outside there is a 15-acre Environmental Park that features friendly river otters and other animals native to North Carolina.
Reynolda House Museum of American Art
The Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem houses a wonderful collection of paintings, sculpture, costumes, decorative arts and more. The museum features the works of American artists from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries. Some of the artists represented in the collection includes Albert Bierstadt, Mary Cassatt, Frederic Church, John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins, Jacob Lawrence, and Georgia O'Keeffe.Costumes on display include clothing from the Reynolda family from the 19th and 20th Century.The Reynolda House Museum of American Art has been fully restored and showcases some of the homes original furnishings.
Historic Bethabara Park
Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem is noted for being the 1st Moravian settlement in the United States. The site recreates what life was like in the Carolinian backwoods over 250 years ago. Historic Bethabara Park is located in a 175-acre wildlife preserve that is reputed to have over 125 different species of birds. Historic Bethabara Park is a National Historic Landmark and has a restored church on site from the mid 18th Century.
Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, known as SECCA, is a visual arts organization that presents They offer a variety of contemporary art forms, including contemporary music, drama, dance and film by local and nationally known artists. SECCA opened in 1956 and has grown dramatically ever since that time.The center features temporary exhibitions as well as educational programs open to the public so be sure to check in advance to see what is happening.
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is a multi use countryside park consisting of forest, pastures, and streams. The park offers a wide range of activities such as golf, tennis, bike and hiking trails, fishing, horseback riding, and an aquatic center for swimming. Tanglewood also has impressive gardens and nature educational programs.Check with the parks calendar to find out about events, particularly the annual festival of lights that takes place each Christmas.
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem offers a great setting for academic studies as well as an interesting distraction for visitors. Some of the highlights at the university include the Museum of Anthropology, the Reynolda Gardens and House, and the Secret Artists Series, with well known performing artists. Check the Wake Forest University calendar to see what is happening on campus.
Wake Forest Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem offers a look at global cultures. The museum features a permanent collection that represents the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania with artifacts that tell the story of human history from ancient times to today. Lifways of ancient and traditional peoples are highlighted through their household and ceremonial items, textiles, hunting and fishing gear, and objects of personal adornment. It also offers artifacts from the Yadkin River Valley in North Carolina.Check the Museum of Anthropology's calendar to find out about temporary exhibits which are presented throughout the year.
God's Acre
God's Acre, located in Winston Salem, is a Moravian cemetery with the graves of people, some dating into the very early 18th Century. The cemetery is easily accessible off of highway 158.It is interesting to wander through the cemetery and think what life would have been like in this very area over 300 years ago.
