Get ready to visit "The Birthplace of Winston-Salem" at Historic Bethabara Park. This historic gem is not just a National Historic Landmark, but it's the site of the first European settlement in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, when the German-speaking Moravians arrived back to 1753.
Today, Historic Bethabara Park exists to preserve the history and heritage of the Old Town, as well as preserve the local wildlife, wetlands, birding trails and historic buildings and grounds spread across 183 acres.
The grounds, gardens and trails within Historic Bethabara Park are free of charge, and are open year round so for those families who are on a budget, this can still be a great opportunity for you to immerse yourselves in the history.
To really experience and learn about the buildings and history, you can enjoy guided tours, which have a charge albiet a very small one.
The current guided tour allows you to explore the restored 1788 Gemeinhaus (meaning "meeting house" in German), along with your experienced tour guide. In fact, this 18th century Gemeinhaus is the ONLY German colonial church remainig (with attached living quarters for the minister) in the entire USA!
Did you know that the Gemeinhaus was not just a church? It was actually a school, a town hall, and the minister's residence. During your guided tour, you can take a room-by-room walkthrough, hearing all about Bethabara's story. This tour also includes a 15 minute video of the history of the Moravians (the total tour lasts about an hour)
They do plan new tours, so keep an eye on the website to see what options you have!
Are you excited to take a step back into history at Historic Bethabara Park? We imagine life would be pretty different than yours today!
Guided tours $4. Grounds, gardens and trails are free
Guided tours $1. Grounds, gardens and trails are free
2 years
2022
Don't forget your camera!
They often host fun, FREE events for the community so keep an eye out on their website!
Take your class on a field trip back in time! When students visit Historic Bethabara Park, they learn what life was like for children living in the 18th century Moravian settlement of Bethabara. While engaging in fun, hands-on activities, children will experience a world from long ago and understand what was necessary to live in colonial North Carolina. Historic Bethabara Park offers two different field trip experiences, one for Lower Elementary (grades 1-3) students, and one for Upper Elementary (grades 3-5) students. Both the Lower and Upper Elementary tours are an extension of the elementary Social Studies classroom curriculum and meets many NCSCS Curriculum guidelines.
The gift shop is located in the visitor center and offers handcrafted items that honor the Moravian, colonial, and natural history of Bethabara. Made by regional artisans, the items for sale represent trades found in Bethabara!
Give them a call if you have any questions about the accessibility, they'll be happy to help answer them!
Click here for lots more great things to do near you in North Carolina
Visitor Center Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM Saturday & Sunday: 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Visitor Center: Open for guided tours late March to mid-December. Closed: Thanksgiving Day and Independence Day (Grounds, gardens and trails open all year)
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Historic Bethabara Park
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