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The history of Winston-Salem
Old Salem's Moravian streets, the downtown Arts District and the West End's historic homes give Winston-Salem distinct places to start, a short drive from Reynolda.
People who shaped Winston-Salem
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
BLACK HISTORY WINSTON-SALEM,NC
A local history film shared by Litezone.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Winston-Salem
See all 48 famous people
- 1753
Moravian settlers arrive
Moravian settlers reached the Wachovia tract, founding Bethabara, the first settlement in the area.
City reference ↗ - 1766
Building Salem
The first tree was felled to build the Moravian town of Salem.
City reference ↗ - 1851
The town of Winston
The new Forsyth County seat north of Salem was named Winston, for Revolutionary War hero Joseph Winston.
City reference ↗ - 1913
One city
After a referendum, Winston and Salem merged as Winston-Salem.
City reference ↗ - 1929
The Reynolds Building
The Reynolds Building, headquarters of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, was completed downtown.
City reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk Old Salem's restored Moravian streets, then continue downtown to see the city's tobacco-era commercial buildings. Check current opening hours before setting out.Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Winston-Salem library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 9, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.