Salem Tavern was a tavern in the 18th century town of Salem, North Carolina, now within the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...

. It is part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens and open as an Old Salem

Old Salem

Old Salem is a historic district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It features a living history museum that interprets the restored Moravian community. The non-profit organization began its work in 1950, although some private residents had restored buildings earlier...

 tour building to visitors.

Constructed on the foundations of an earlier 1771 Tavern which burnt to the ground in 1784, it was quickly rebuilt since it formed an important function in the Moravian Church community which was a trade town. Constructed by mason Johann Gottlob Krause using bricks already on hand for another building, the Tavern reopened quickly. The Tavern complex was later expanded by the construction of a wooden building to the north in 1815, then a building connected the two was constructed in 1832. The two story porch was run across the three buildings in 1838. The Tavern was the lodgings for George Washington for two nights during his Southern Tour in 1791.

The Tavern and adjacent 1815 building have been restored to their original appearances.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...

in 1964.

Sources

• Old Salem: The Official Guidebook. Penelope Niven and Cornelia Wright. Old Salem Inc.: Winston-Salem, NC. 2000.