Old Salem
Three of Winston-Salem's four national historic landmarks are located in this living history town. As the Moravians were meticulous record keepers, the prospect of restoration and reconstruction of more than 100 of the 1766 church town's structures with exacting detail has been achieved.

The following projects have recently been restored:

St. Philips Moravian Church, built in 1861, is the oldest standing African American church in North Carolina. Adjacent to it is the newly reconstructed 1823 log church, where exhibits and interpretations of the African American experience in Salem are offered. Serving as the first burial site in Salem for non-Moravian members and as the first site designated for African American burials in Salem, the sacred site tells the true stories about diversity and equality in Salem.

The Timothy Vogler Gunsmith Shop, built in 1831 and operated by father and son, is a fully operational gunsmithing facility. It is one of the oldest remaining gunsmith shops in America.

The Herbst House, built in 1821, was restored and moved back to its original streetfront location.

Old Salem Bridge
Dedicated in 1999, this pedestrian bridge is constructed of timbers recycled from Savannah Harbor (1750-1790) in Georgia and other historic landmarks. The bridge spans 120 feet in length over Old Salem Road and connects the historic village with the new Old Salem Visitor Center.

Adaptive Re-use in Downtown
Albert Hall is located downtown at 100 Chestnut Street. This warehouse was built by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in 1911 to package Prince Albert tobacco. Today, the warehouse consists of condominiums, office space for business technology companies and a parking garage.

The Historic Mill at Tar Branch is located on the corner of Marshall and Wachovia Streets. This textile factory, built at the end of the 19th century, has been converted to condominium homes and commercial space, all on a 2.5-acre landscape. Residences consist of lofts, flats, garden-style units with patios, and two-story units, all within walking distance of downtown.

One West Fifth Street is located downtown on the corner of West Fifth and Liberty Streets. Formerly the Charles Building, this department store built in 1927 has been restored to its original exterior appearance. The building has been converted to condominiums, including an underground parking garage for residents.

Fourth Street Winston Streetscape Improvements
The overhaul of Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem between Spruce and Main Streets was completed in summer 2002. The road was converted to a two-way, two-lane street with wide, tree-lined sidewalks to accommodate sidewalk dining and retail. These changes create a relaxed environment that is more suitable for pedestrians, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Downtown Architectural Tour
Focus on the architecturally significant buildings, churches and residences while traveling through the core of downtown. Highlights include historical sites such as the Reynolds building, which is the prototype for the Empire State Building. This structure, built in the late 1920s, was designed by New York architects Shreve and Lamb. The adoption of the steel skeleton frame allowed the Reynolds Building to be the tallest building in the Southeast. The entrance lobby demonstrates the most ornate art deco adornment in any building erected in the state during this period, with ornamentation such as Benedict metal grille work, gold leaf accents on the ceiling emulating smoke rings, and carved marble detailing.

Other highlights include the Winston-Salem Visitor Center, located in the complex that housed the city's first factory that was built in 1836, and the Sawtooth Building, built in 1910, which was acquired by Hanes Manufacturing a few years later. The Sawtooth Building received its name from its jagged rooftop resembling a saw blade.

North Carolina School of the Arts
The school was founded in the 1960s as the first state-supported school of its kind in the nation. While the campus has since expanded, it began in what was Gray High School. A noteworthy component of the university today is the film school's Main Street USA, created as a location site for student filmmaking.

National Register of Historic Places
A substantial list of Forsyth County buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts are on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents of the area are devoted to the preservation of American history.

Ardmore
Rumored to be named after the developer's hometown in Pennsylvania, Ardmore was merely cornfields until about 1915. Created as an influential middle-class neighborhood, it is dotted with period cottages and craftsman bungalows. Baptist and Forsyth Hospitals operate on either side of Ardmore and help to define the region's borders. The neighborhood's distinct charm has been popular for medical professionals and young families since the opening of these two medical centers. The area is currently being considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Buena Vista
Don't be surprised by Winston-Salem's Southern (non-Spanish) pronunciation of this part of town. Situated just north of "Five Points" — the intersection of Miller Street, First Street, Stratford Road, South Stratford Road and Country Club Road — Buena Vista is home to many second and third generation families. Home purchases often take place before a sign could ever be put in the yard.

Neatly manicured yards show off seasonal plantings including tulips in spring, crape myrtle in summer, and chrysanthemums in the fall, followed by winter with evergreen wreaths and Moravian stars.

Goler-Depot Street
Goler Memorial AME Zion Church and the Goler-Depot Street Renaissance Community Development Corporation are joining forces to rebuild their neighborhood and return it to the thriving community it once was at the turn of the 20th century. The groups have acquired close to eight acres on which they will build homes, an assisted-living center and an independent-living center. The next project involves converting the 1940 Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company manufacturing plant in downtown Winston-Salem to a family enrichment center.

Reynolds Town
From 1919-1921, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company funded the building of a neighborhood, just beyond downtown, for the company's employees. The neighborhood consisted of alternating garden lots and bungalow homes until the construction of Atkins High School in 1931. As the community grew with the addition of the high school, the garden lots were sold, new homes were built, and the neighborhood developed into a tight-knit community of family and friends. Today, a project is underway to renovate the houses that fell into disrepair as Reynolds Town residents grew older.

Washington Park
Situated just south of downtown Winston-Salem, the Washington Park area is home to North Carolina School of the Arts. Homes are typically two-story bungalows with large front porches, reminiscent of a time when neighbors took an evening stroll and visited one another. Many have been and are being renovated.

West End
This historic neighborhood, designed in 1890, was home to the upper-management of local companies, including R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Originally built as a resort and residential community, its curvy streets and terraced lawns blend beautifully with its Queen Anne, colonial revival, craftsmen and Victorian style homes. The extraordinary economic growth of Winston-Salem from the late 1800s through the 1920s is reflected in the unique and substantial residences in the West End. Originally traveled by streetcar, motorized trolleys run in the neighborhood today. Businesses and residences neatly meld together in these incredible turn-of-the-century homes and shops.

Crystal Towers, the northeast section of the West End, has experienced a recent rebirth. Homes fallen into disrepair are now being purchased and refurbished.