Old Salem Tour of 1784 Tavern – See George Washington's Letter and More!

Guided Tour of Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

The Salem Tavern at Old Salem, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, provided some interesting tidbits of history on our walking tour of this historic Moravian town in Forsyth County. We visited the tavern after seeing the Timothy Vogler Gunsmith Shop.

Learn Moravian Culture at Old Salem Tavern © Katrena

The Salem Tavern was built to be on the edge of town because the Moravian community preferred not to have too many influences from "outsiders." They held certain religious beliefs that travelers might not practice, yet the income from the tavern helped the economy of the town.

Parlor Room in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Before heading upstairs, tour guides will gladly show guests the large front rooms. Several games are laid out on tables. We thought it was interesting that games like checkers were allowed as long as the game involved skill and not simply luck.

Salem Tavern Tour of Guest Rooms © Katrena

The largest bedroom available for travelers did not have a price tag and was reserved for more affluent travelers. The tavern owner and traveler would come to an agreement on the price for this spacious and private room.

Bedroom of Tavern Owner at Old Salem © Katrena

The owner and his family lived in the tavern, but women and children would not mingle with tavern patrons. Some think that perhaps George Washington may have stayed in the owner's bedroom on his famous visit to Old Salem.

Water Buckets in Case of Fire © Katrena

Large bags with handles hang in the downstairs hallway. These were filled with water in case of fire in the hopes of extinguishing the flames. Larger buildings like this would have more bags than the smaller homes nearby. An uncontrolled fire could easily devastate an entire town. I have several friends who are firefighters...I bet they are glad we have more modern ways to extinguish flames now!

Bedroom in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Upstairs Bedroom in Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

Regular rooms in the tavern are located upstairs. Several beds were in each room upstairs, and travelers might share beds if necessary. Prices for these rooms were much less than the large private room downstairs.

Trying Out a Bed at the Tavern in Old Salem © Katrena

My daughters were quite excited to have the chance to try lying down on a bed that was made to resemble those of the time after we got upstairs. They all decided it was quite comfortable!

George Washington's Letter After Visiting Old Salem © Katrena

This tavern must have had an excellent reputation because the first President of the United States, George Washington, stayed here. His letter commending the community and their hospitality is upstairs in the tavern. The Moravians were quite progressive for the time. They believed in formal education for girls and boys and mentored the youth so that they could support themselves and their families once they became adults.

Kitchen in Salem Tavern © Katrena

The kitchen is located at the back of the tavern, and the guide there mentioned that she has been working at Old Salem for eleven years. She kept a fire going in the fireplace and showed how the women would have taken some hot coals out and placed them on the floor in order to cook some of the food.

Silverware and Dishes at Old Salem © Katrena

The oven in the tavern kitchen resembled the one in the Winkler Bakery. They use wood to heat it and must carefully time baking of the bread. Herbs were hanging from the ceiling and plenty of older silverware and dishes seemed to beckon guests to stay a while.

Dining Room in Salem Tavern © Katrena

The dining area in the tavern was decorated quite nicely. My 4-year-old was ready to have a meal!

Tavern Was Important for Old Salem Economy © Katrena

Our next stop on the walking tour was the Blum House. Find more family-friendly travel destinations, including additional Old Salem tour stops, at my Travel NC With Kids site map.