Old Salem Museum & Gardens — Attraction in Winston-Salem

Disappointed.

I grew up with Old Salem and even worked there for two years. Old Salem under it's current administration has gone down hill. The historical emphases of Moravian history is fading into the past with the rise to the historical revisionism of Salem's president, Frank Vagnone. Today, a visitor will receive a mixture of Vagnone's creativity and a sprinkle of historical Moravianism. Old Salem has changed. Instead seeing buildings and floor plans has they would have been in the 1700s or 1800s the visitor is seeing a mix of Vangnone's creativity with some historicity.

Sure, why does it matter that Moravian history is being represented through the eyes of some than through factual history? As a visitor, you can just go get some of the facts, some of the story, and have fun while paying a pricey ticket to do so. To the average visitor, it may not matter. Why should it? The administration doesn't think it should.

What should matter is the fact that Old Salem has lost good employees because of the current presidential administration. It should matter that folks working there are treated and paid poorly. It should matter that these folks love Old Salem and want to present the real deal to every visitor. It should matter that they cannot, because it doesn't meet the creative vision of the current administration.

If you want, then go and pay the expensive cost, but know that you're not getting the real story. Know that you're not getting the good, bad, and ugly of Old Salem's history. Instead, you're paying $27 for one man's vision. You're paying $27 to go one man's playground instead of learning about the people of Old Salem and how they would have actually lived.

I hope the Board of Trustees and President Frank reconsider their current direction. I hope they return to presenting Old Salem as it was instead of how they think it...

As a 9th Generation Moravian this is very sentalmental for me. Old Salem itself my Great Grandparents lived in a home downtown at one point, then just not far at all, could still walk to the church or anything. The History is a Treasure. The older Moriavians very Devault Christians and looking at the History even of my Moriavian family there where pioneers. My Great Grandmother Agnes Maynor and Great Granddaddy Jesse Maynor prayed morning noon and night. I witnessed as a young child Unity and the true love of the Savior shown by them, they stood on the living word and never wavered. It used to be so a bigger Region and so much more land and homes. I never dreamed it would become Historical. It has been sad for me to see so many of the original homes torn down or falling apart. Change is hard. I only pray that what my family who where pioneers for Jesus from Moriavian Falls Wilks and all though out Forsyth County are never forgotten. That each life and there death matters it does to me and I know others. So greatful for the Adam Spach family my family. The Mickey family and The 1st leader of the band was his brother Samuel Mickey all these cousins down my family tree Millers, Maynors..to many to list. To save this History is a Treasure. I am so greatful to have growing up to learn and to make the candles and just truly step back in time. One family is what I was taughtTruly the Truth. Come Lord Jesus our...

Yes Christmas is a magical time to visit Old Salem. However the highlight and also let down of our visits there for 2019 was Halloween Nightwatchman Tours. We went Oct 30 And they stick to no refunds and doing tours in the rain however definition of light drizzle as stated in web site and what was happening is different for us all so plan accordingly. It was pouring rain on our tour to us it made it a little more old world and realistic I give 3 stars because I love old Salem however we called several times to get updates for the tour due to terrible weather to only have confusing answers or very non-pleasant employees talking to us. The final answer was a stern woman who was a manager talking down to us “just look on Facebook” and hung up the phone. newsflash not everyone has Facebook. I highly recommend O.S. Has Clearer terms on web site and a better way of communication to customers spending the high dollars for the tickets (The tour guide did try her best considering it was raining so hard but seemed a little disheveled telling the stories and had to constantly read her note book instead of the tour the night before when it was not pouring down rain and that Guide knew it as if it was a play) We are going to try again in 2020 because there is a lot...