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| St Philips Church is the oldest African American church in the state |
We came across a quaint historic Moravian church town within Winston-Salem while visiting our friend Janet Hendley in Greensboro, NC. It was a delightful place setting us back into life as it was in 1766. Old Salem’s story and the evidence of its history have been preserved and continue to be discovered in the common story of the many people that built this country as immigrants.
Moravians emigrated around the world to practice freedom of religion and avoid persecution. One group known as the Wachovia tract of North Carolina settled in Old Salem where we visited. Theirs was a collective and communal history that charted a planned path to become a community that flourished like few others in the late 19th and into the 20th century.
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| David Tannenberg organ |
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| Black organ keys |
The town's restored and reconstructed buildings in Old Salem, staffed by living-history interpreters, is a excellent place to catch a view of Moravian life in the 18th and 19th centuries. This historic town features include skilled interpreters such as tinsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers, gunsmiths, bakers and carpenters, actually practicing their trades while interacting with visitors.
Approximately 70% of the buildings in the historic district are original, making this a truly unique living history museum. Substantial historical and archaeological research has focused on Salem's historical African-American population. Moravians even educated enslaved members of their community, teaching literacy skills and even some professional trades when slavery and segregation were prevalent in the South.
Our travels continue to unfold new experiences of enlightenment as we progress along on the journey.
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| Gunsmith inlays on a rifle |
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| Moravian pottery |
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| Baker makes 80 loaves per day |
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| Old Salem Tavern and Beehive Bakers oven |
