Winston-Salem was founded in 1913 with the merging of Winston, an industrial, textile and tobacco center, and Salem, a town settled in 1766 by German Moravians (Protestants). The area's early history can be experienced by visiting Old Salem, a living history museum, and Historic Bethabara Park, North Carolina's first Moravian settlement.

From May to August each year, the streets of Winston-Salem are filled with music from the Downtown Summer Music Series. Biennially, the city hosts the National Black Theatre Festival. Other Winston-Salem attractions include Tanglewood Park, the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Körners Folley.