Salem Tavern facts for kids
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Salem Tavern
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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1784 Salem Tavern, September 2019
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 800 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1784 |
| Part of | Old Salem Historic District (ID66000591) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000592 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 13, 1966 |
Salem Tavern is a very old building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is part of the Old Salem Historic District. Long ago, in the 1700s, it was a place where travelers could eat, drink, and sleep. Today, it is a museum that you can visit.
The Salem Tavern was built in 1784. It was the first building in Old Salem made completely of bricks. It is also one of the oldest brick taverns still standing in the United States. Because of its history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
What Salem Tavern Looks Like
The Salem Tavern is on the west side of South Main Street. It is made up of two buildings. One building is made of brick, and the other is made of wood. Both buildings are two and a half stories tall and have pointed roofs.
The brick building sits on a raised base. It has a porch across the front with square posts. You can get to the porch from the sidewalk using stairs. The front part of this building had public rooms downstairs. Guests would sleep in rooms upstairs. The kitchen and the owner's rooms were in a section at the back. The wooden building next to it had more rooms for guests to sleep in.
A Look at Its History
The Salem Tavern was built quickly in 1784. It was built on the spot where an older tavern had burned down that same year. The town of Salem was a trade center for the Moravian Church community. So, a tavern was very important for visitors and business.
A builder named Johann Gottlob Krause used bricks that were already ready for another building. This helped the tavern open again very fast. Later, in 1815, a wooden building was added next to it. Then, in 1832, a building was built to connect the two. A large porch was added across all three buildings in 1838, but it is not there anymore.
A very famous person, George Washington, stayed at the Salem Tavern. He spent two nights there in 1791 during his trip through the Southern states.
Today, the main tavern building and the wooden building from 1815 have been fixed up. They now look like they did a long time ago.
Gallery
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The Tavern, HABS Photo, 1934
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1815 Salem Tavern, September 2019
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