City of Arts and Innovation
Arts institutions and adaptive reuse define the contemporary city.
Back to North Carolina
Triad · Complete city guide
Winston-Salem
A city of arts, industry, Moravian history, and enduring Ram pride.
Welcome to Winston-Salem
Welcome to Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem layers Moravian settlement, tobacco wealth, Black educational leadership, and a nationally recognized arts ecosystem into a city that reveals itself slowly.
Essential context
City at a Glance
A concise orientation to Winston-Salem before you arrive.
Region
Triad
A closer look
Fun Facts
Details that make Winston-Salem distinctive.
Moravian heritage
Old Salem preserves a distinctive early community and craft tradition.
Tobacco legacy
Industrial architecture remains visible across downtown.
Origins & evolution
The History
The eras and industries that shaped Winston-Salem.
Salem and Winston
Moravians established Salem in the eighteenth century; industrial Winston grew beside it, and the municipalities consolidated in 1913.
Tobacco city
Manufacturing shaped the skyline, workforce, philanthropy, and neighborhoods for generations.
Legacy & community
Black History & Culture
Institutions, neighborhoods, and movements essential to understanding Black Winston-Salem.
01Winston-Salem State University
Founded by educator Simon Green Atkins in 1892, WSSU anchors Black academic and cultural life.
Happy Hill
One of the city’s oldest Black communities carries a long history of family, faith, and neighborhood advocacy.
Delta Arts Center
The center advances Black visual art and cultural programming in the Triad.
City signatures
What This City Is Known For
The landmarks, traditions, and identities that define the city.
City of Arts and Innovation
Arts institutions and adaptive reuse define the contemporary city.
Moravian heritage
Old Salem preserves a distinctive early community and craft tradition.
Tobacco legacy
Industrial architecture remains visible across downtown.
Make a day of it
Things to Do
Museums, culture, entertainment, and experiences worth planning around.
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Explore a living-history district and the historic landscape of Salem.
Reynolda
Visit American art, gardens, and the former Reynolds estate.
Innovation Quarter
Walk a major district of restored industrial buildings and public space.
Start here
First Time in Winston-Salem
A simple morning-to-evening route through the city’s essential places.
Morning
Experience Ram history and the legacy of Simon Green Atkins.
Afternoon
Explore a living-history district and the historic landscape of Salem.
Evening
A key home for African-American visual arts.
One full day
24 Hours in Winston-Salem
A focused route for a first full day.
Arts day
Move from Delta Arts Center to Trade Street, SECCA, and an evening performance.
A city weekend
48 Hours in Winston-Salem
Add neighborhoods, culture, and outdoor time on a second day.
Arts day
Move from Delta Arts Center to Trade Street, SECCA, and an evening performance.
History day
Pair Old Salem with Happy Hill context and WSSU.
The essential edit
Must-See Places
Landmarks and institutions that belong on a first visit.
WSSU campus
Experience Ram history and the legacy of Simon Green Atkins.
Old Salem
Read early local history through preserved streets and buildings.
Reynolda House
See American art in a historic estate setting.
At the table
Food & Drink
A grounding introduction to the flavors and dining districts of Winston-Salem.
Moravian traditions
Thin cookies, sugar cake, and historic baking remain local signatures.
Piedmont cooking
Barbecue and Southern comfort traditions meet a changing restaurant scene.
Downtown tables
The arts district and Trade Street support independent cafés and dining.
Rest your head
Where to Stay
Lodging areas and practical context for an overnight visit to Winston-Salem.
Lodging guide in progress
Drake is verifying current hotels and locally owned stays before making named recommendations.
Support local
Statewide directory Black-Owned Businesses
Existing Drake directory records for Winston-Salem; each remains labeled until independently verified.
WellnessRam House Wellness
Yoga, breathwork and community therapy circles on a sliding scale.
Drake Magazine sample record — verify before publication
Creative StudioCobalt Clay Studio
Ceramics studio and shop with monthly wheel classes for beginners.
Drake Magazine sample record — verify before publication
Learning & legacy
Schools & Education
Universities, HBCUs, colleges, and educational history.
Winston-Salem State University
A public HBCU founded as Slater Industrial Academy.
Wake Forest University
A private research university with major medical and cultural institutions.
UNC School of the Arts
A public conservatory training artists across disciplines.
Block by block
Neighborhoods
Districts with distinct histories, architecture, and local character.
Happy Hill
A historic Black neighborhood near Old Salem.
East Winston
A broad community closely connected to WSSU.
Downtown Arts District
Galleries, studios, and performance spaces cluster near Trade Street.
West End
A historic streetcar neighborhood with distinctive architecture.
On stage & on view
Arts, Music & Entertainment
Institutions and creative traditions that keep the city expressive.
Delta Arts Center
A key home for African-American visual arts.
SECCA
The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art presents changing exhibitions.
UNCSA
The conservatory adds film, dance, music, theater, and design to city life.
Game day
Sports
Professional, college, youth, and community sports traditions.
WSSU Rams
HBCU athletics and homecoming carry deep alumni pride.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
ACC competition shapes the collegiate calendar.
Dash baseball
The minor-league club plays near downtown.
Find something local
Shopping
Independent corridors, makers, markets, and major retail districts.
Trade Street
Browse galleries, makers, and independent shops in the arts district.
Old Salem shops
Historic crafts and foodways inform a distinctive retail experience.
Reynolda Village
Shops and dining occupy buildings from the former estate.
After dark
Nightlife
An overview of the city’s evening rhythm, with changing venues held for verification.
Arts-district evenings
Gallery openings, performances, and intimate venues shape downtown nights.
University stages
WSSU, Wake Forest, and UNCSA calendars add performances throughout the year.
After-dark edit
Drake is verifying Black-led lounges, live rooms, and recurring social events.
All ages
Family Things to Do
Museums, parks, and experiences that work across generations.
Kaleideum
A downtown experiential learning museum serves children and families.
Old Salem
Hands-on history and gardens work well for multigenerational visits.
Salem Lake
A waterside trail and recreation area offers room to move.
Fresh air
Outdoors
Parks, trails, waterways, and landscapes within reach of the city.
Salem Lake Trail
A loop follows the shoreline east of downtown.
Reynolda Gardens
Formal gardens and woodland paths are open to visitors.
Bethabara Park
Trails cross a historic landscape and wetlands.
The calendar
Full calendar Upcoming Events
Verified dates listed by Drake Magazine. Confirm details with the organizer before attending.
Drake events calendar
No verified upcoming Winston-Salem events are listed right now.
Check the statewide calendarFrom the city desk
Events You May Have Missed
Future recaps, photo highlights, and interviews from the Drake archive.
More Winston-Salem reporting is in development
Drake Magazine will add verified interviews, photography, dates, and local recommendations after editorial review.
Names & legacies
People to Know
Historic figures alongside clearly labeled Drake profile assignments from Winston-Salem.
Simon Green Atkins
The educator founded the institution now known as WSSU.
Maya Angelou
The writer and professor spent decades teaching at Wake Forest University.
Dr. Maya Angelou’s local legacy
Her teaching and public presence remain part of the city’s literary identity.
Nia Okonkwo
Large-format textile work rooted in Igbo pattern and Piedmont quilting.
Drake Magazine sample record — verify before publication
Drake city desk
Local News & Stories
Published sample coverage and future reporting from Winston-Salem.
Made in NC
Made in NC: The Ceramics Revival
Carolina clay has been in the ground for centuries. These makers are pulling it back up.
Marcus Bell · August 12, 2026 · 8 min
Drake Magazine sample record — verify before publication
Practical notes
Know Before You Go
Transit, arrival, weather, and logistics for a smoother visit.
Arriving
Piedmont Triad International Airport is the closest major airport; Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham offer broader options.
Getting around
Downtown districts connect well on foot, while campuses and parks are easier by car.
Twin-city geography
Old Salem, downtown Winston, and university areas are distinct stops rather than one compact district.
Right now
Live local weather
Loading current conditions…
The practical picture
City Facts
Population context, climate, economy, surrounding areas, and transportation for Winston-Salem.
Population & Demographics
Use the latest U.S. Census Bureau release; 2020 is the decennial benchmark.
Cost of Living & Climate
Compare current housing, transportation, and household data before relocating.
North Carolina has four seasons, hot humid summers, and generally mild winters.
Major Industries
Education · Healthcare · Government · Small business
Surrounding Areas
Explore the wider Triad region.
Getting Around
Arriving: Piedmont Triad International Airport is the closest major airport; Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham offer broader options.
Getting around: Downtown districts connect well on foot, while campuses and parks are easier by car.
Education & HBCUs
Winston-Salem State University · Wake Forest University · UNC School of the Arts
Build your route
Plan Your Visit
Flexible starting points for one day, a weekend, or a return trip.
Arts day
Move from Delta Arts Center to Trade Street, SECCA, and an evening performance.
History day
Pair Old Salem with Happy Hill context and WSSU.
Slow weekend
Combine Reynolda, Salem Lake, neighborhood dining, and a university event.
Official information
Plan with primary sources
Confirm current hours, transit, admission, and seasonal conditions before leaving.
Keep exploring
Explore Another City
The Drake Dispatch
North Carolina, in your inbox every Thursday.
New stories, weekend plans, business openings and the things we hear before they get posted.