Located in the same area as the Forsyth County Courthouse and around the corner, the equestrian…read morestatue of RJ Reynolds, this marker points out the original home of one of the city's core businesses. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "The Little Red Factory, also known as the Old Red Factory, was built in 1875 by Richard Joshua (R.J.) Reynolds as the first home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Situated on land purchased from the Moravian town of Salem, this modest two-story structure was strategically located at the nexus of two key commercial advantages: the thriving flue-cured tobacco market and a newly constructed railroad line. R.J. Reynolds emerged as a prominent figure in the community, and the Reynolds family played a pivotal role in shaping the history and growth of Winston-Salem." Winston-Salem's growth is tightly linked to the rise of R.J. Reynolds, who arrived in 1874 and launched his business in the Little Red Factory, a small bright‑red building that quickly expanded as demand for tobacco surged. By the 1890s, Reynolds had built Factory Number 256 over the original site, absorbed most local competitors, and turned his company into a national powerhouse with brands like Prince Albert, Camel, Winston, and Salem, while also reshaping the city's skyline with projects such as the 1929 Reynolds Building. The company became one of the region's largest employers through the mid‑20th century, but later faced mounting health‑related scrutiny, regulatory pressure, and declining cigarette consumption, eventually merging with Nabisco in 1989 and relocating its headquarters to Atlanta in 1999. Although Factory Number 256 was destroyed in a major 1998 fire, the legacy of R.J. Reynolds remains deeply embedded in Winston-Salem's industrial, economic, and architectural history. [Review 617 of 2026 - 4705 in North Carolina - 25798 overall]

Shallowford Road's bridge over the Yadkin River looks like a simple modern crossing at first…read moreglance, but once you drop down the dirt path on the west back, you might feel like you're standing beside a spot that has shaped travel in this region for nearly three centuries. The historic Shallo Ford sits just south of the bridge, the only wagon road crossing used by settlers heading down the Great Wagon Road, by Patriot militia in 1780, by Cornwallis in 1781, and by Stoneman's cavalry in 1865. Today you can drive right down to the riverside and park under the bridge with the water sliding past and the concrete overhead humming, and it's wild to think that all that history unfolded just a short walk away. The river access itself has that low key local feel, with a small boat launch, plenty of bank space for fishing, and the kind of ticked away vibe that probably makes it a favorite make out spot after dark. It's quiet, easy to reach and hidden enough to feel like you found something. A Forsyth County sheriff did roll through while I was there, so it's clearly on someone's radar, but that didn't take away from the charm. For a quick stop at a place where the past and the present sit almost on top of each other, it's a surprisingly peaceful bend in the Yadkin. [Review 607 of 2026 - 4695 in North Carolina - 25788 overall]

Nice little museum. Quite a bit of info. Nice to see the set up of the courtroom. Great area at the…read moreend for kids.

Located in the Old Davidson County Courthouse, this museum tells the history of Lexington and…read moreDavidson County with a number of displays of memorabilia and artifacts from its history. This is the South, so they certainly have some information on the Civil War (and the former Memorial that's since been removed) but the original courtroom furniture and jail cell are still here. The ground floor had photos of Lexington through the ages. Interesting to see all of this and learn about this interesting city. The museum is free and donations are appreciated. [Review 1792 of 2024 - 3711 in North Carolina - 22815 overall]

This is marker number 31 and it was erected by the city of Winston-Salem in 2013 to honor one of…read morethe earliest settlers in the city. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This site marks the location where Thomas J. Wilson built the first home in what would become the town of Winston. Wilson had received permission from the Moravian Church in 1847 to erect his dwelling north of Salem's central area, as he wanted to live in the country. An attorney, Wilson was a member of the Forsyth County bar for over half a century. Wilson served as Forsyth County's first attorney, was judge for the Eighth Judicial District, a state senator, and mayor of Winston for two terms. After a life of service to First Presbyterian Church, Wilson died in 1900 at the age of eighty-five." Thomas J. Wilson built the first home in what became Winston after purchasing rural land from the Moravians in 1847, seeking a quiet place outside Salem. He went on to become one of Forsyth County's most prominent early leaders, serving as the county's first attorney, a judge, a state senator, and a two‑term mayor. A key figure in organizing the area's Presbyterian community, he remained influential for decades until his death in 1900. There is metered parking here but it's busy during the week with the courthouses nearby. [Review 613 of 2026 - 4701 in North Carolina - 25794 overall]

In downtown Winston-Salem, historical marker 34 was erected by the city to recognize the founding…read moreof the Winston-Salem Rotary Club and standing beside it under the city's tall buildings, you can feel how much civic ambition once pulsed through this corner of Second and Main. The marker reads, "On November 9, 1915, the first organizational meeting of the Winston-Salem Rotary Club, the Piedmont Triad's first Rotary club, was held in the Zinzendorf Hotel at the northeast corner of North Main and West Second Streets. The 24 founding members joined the growing Rotary organization that had been founded in Chicago in 1905. Under the visionary leadership of the Winston-Salem club's first president, Owen Norvell, the club received its charter on February 1, 1916, and quickly grew to become one of the community's most respected civic organizations. Over its first 100 years, Rotary international grew to become an organization of 1.2 million members in over 27,000 Rotary clubs in 150 countries throughout the world." The online entry provides much more information. This Rotary Club helped create the City County Planning Board, supported the preservation of Old Salem, encouraged the relocation of Wake Forest College and the development of the North Carolina Baptist Medical Center. The Rotary Club's influence shows up in places locals pass every day. There is metered parking here but it gets busy on weekdays with the courthouses and the county offices nearby. [Review 614 of 2026 - 4702 in North Carolina - 25795 overall]

This marker is located in downtown Winston-Salem and points out one of the reasons that the tobacco…read moreindustry is so strong in this part of the country. The marker reads, "Wm. Cyrus Briggs. Invented in 1898 one of the first successful automatic cigarette machines. Workshop was 3 blocks east." This is marker number J-52 and it was erected in 1971 by the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History. There is more information online. William Cyrus Briggs, born in 1861 in Turner, Maine, was a pioneering inventor whose cigarette-making machines revolutionized tobacco production and helped companies like R. J. Reynolds compete with industry leaders. After selling his patents to the Murai Brothers in Japan, he continued innovating with the United Cigarette Machine Company, designing even faster machinery. His inventive spirit extended beyond tobacco, as he also created a stamp vending machine and the first return carriage for a typewriter, leaving a lasting mark on early office technology before his death in 1918. [Review 951 of 2025 - 4349 in North Carolina - 24506 overall]

I've never thought much about the RJ Reynolds Company, not being a smoker these days. Of course,…read morethe company is named for the man who founded it but who really thinks about that? But now you can impress your friends and acquaintances that you know the founder's full name: Richard Joshua Reynolds. The sculpture in downtown Winston-Salem honors him and the industry that was key to this city's development. The caption at the base reads, "In 1875, this young Virginian, aged 24, rode into Winston in search of a town in which to build his first tobacco factory. Through the generosity of the citizens of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, this memorial has been erected to honor a successful businessman and public benefactor." The sculpture was completed by artist Earline Heath King and dedicated on June 25, 1979. It shows R. J. Reynolds turning slightly to his right as if taking in the city he helped shape. The bronze figure is detailed and shows Reynolds in a long coat, reins in one hand, hat relaxed at his side, while the horse stands alert with one rear leg lifted as though about to stamp. [Round number review 4700 in North Carolina - 612 of 2026 - 25793 overall]

I have seen a number of markers pointing to the history of Stoneman's Raid across North Carolina -…read morein Statesville, Mount Airy and Wilkesboro - that point out just how wide this raid was across the state, ensuring not only the destruction of the South to expedite the close of the Civil War. A time when "total war" on civilians and civilian infrastructure was a combat strategy. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "On a raid through western North Carolina Gen. Stoneman's U.S. cavalry fought a skirmish with southern troops at Shallow Ford, April 11, 1865." It is marker number J-20 and it was erected in 1940 by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. It is one of two markers in along this stretch of Shallowford Road and there is room to pull over here. [Review 609 of 2026 - 4697 in North Carolina - 25790 overall]