Winston-Salem starts here.

Step into the story at Bethabara.

In the fall of 1753, 15 men began an arduous walk down the Great Wagon Road, their wagon laden with all the supplies they would need to make a start in the backcountry of North Carolina. They arrived a month later and created the first Moravian settlement in Wachovia, the large tract of Piedmont land purchased by the Moravian Church. Bethabara was meant to be a temporary settlement, but when multiple factors delayed the construction of the central town of Salem, it grew into a bustling commercial center. The men and women who lived there witnessed the French & Indian War, the Regulator Movement, and the American Revolution, all the while keeping meticulous records of these events and their daily lives. Bethabara’s role would change with the eventual completion of Salem, and by the 19th century it had slowly transitioned into a rural community.

Today visitors can discover nearly 200 years of Moravian history at Historic Bethabara Park. See the buildings and foundations where Moravian men and women lived and worked. Explore the historical landscape they called home by taking a hike on one of our trails or spending some time in our reconstructed 1761 medicinal garden. Whether you go on a self-guided stroll or take a tour with one of our informative tour guides, there are many ways to step into the story at Historic Bethabara Park.