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 |
The Salem Tavern is a very old building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It's part of the Old Salem Historic District. Back in the 1700s, it was a busy inn where travelers could stay. Today, it's a museum that you can visit!
This special building was first built in 1784. It was the very first building made completely of brick in Old Salem. Later, in 1815, it was made even bigger. The Salem Tavern is one of the oldest brick inns still standing in the United States. Because of its history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
What the Tavern Looks Like
The Salem Tavern is on the west side of South Main Street. It's located between Blum and East Walnut Streets. The tavern is actually made up of two separate buildings. One building is made of brick, and the other is made of wood.
Both buildings are about two and a half stories tall. They both have roofs that come to a point, called gabled roofs. The brick building sits on a raised foundation. It has a porch with a slanted roof across the front. This porch is supported by square posts. You can get to the porch from the sidewalk using stairs on the side.
The front part of the brick building had public rooms downstairs. These were places where guests could gather. Upstairs, there were rooms for guests to sleep. The kitchen and the landlord's living area were in a section at the back. The wooden building next door had even more sleeping rooms for visitors.
A Look Back at the Tavern's History
The Salem Tavern was built on the foundations of an earlier inn. That first inn was built in 1771 but burned down in 1784. The Salem Tavern was quickly rebuilt because it was very important to the Moravian Church community. This community was a busy trading town.
A mason named Johann Gottlob Krause built the new tavern. He used bricks that were already ready for another building. This helped the tavern open again very quickly. The tavern complex grew over time. A wooden building was added to the north in 1815. Then, in 1832, a building was constructed to connect the two.
In 1838, a two-story porch was added across all three buildings. However, this porch has since been removed. A very famous visitor, George Washington, stayed at the tavern for two nights in 1791. He was on his Southern Tour at the time.
Today, the tavern and the 1815 wooden building have been restored. They now look much like they did when they were first built.
Gallery
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The Tavern, HABS Photo, 1934
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1815 Salem Tavern, September 2019
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See also
