Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is located in Winston-Salem, the cultural and industrial hub of one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
The roots of the city can be traced to 1766 when Moravian settlers carved the town of Salem from the Carolina wilderness. The Moravians, a devout Protestant sect who immigrated to the New World from Central Europe, established Salem as a trade and crafts center. They were industrious artisans who made their wares–pottery, cloth, guns–with great pride. Music was part of their religious services and their everyday lives. Their love of the arts created a legacy of appreciation for art, crafts and music evident in Winston-Salem today.
The Moravians’ religious traditions–such as the Easter sunrise service–have become community institutions and attract thousands of visitors each year to the restored village of Old Salem.
In the late 1800s the city of Winston was established as the county seat one mile north of Salem Square. By 1913 growth of the two towns had closed the gap between them, and the "Twin City" was created. Today both the arts and industry flourish in a community eager to preserve its heritage.
Winston-Salem is a pleasant city of 172,000 people–large enough to afford the pleasures of city life without the discomforts. Trees shade the sloping streets, and rose-covered fences border major highways. Many older neighborhoods have been renovated, providing comfortable housing in areas close to the Medical Center and downtown.
The city’s downtown area is also undergoing revitalization. The Stevens Center for the performing Arts and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts form the core of a downtown Art District that is bringing people back to the center city. And plans are underway for a restaurant/music district reminiscent of Beale Street in Memphis.
The city is located in the Piedmont section of North Carolina. The word "Piedmont" means "foot of the mountain" and is an apt geographic term. The Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s longest federal park, is only an hour’s drive to the west; skiing on the longest run south of the Catskills is only an hour farther; and, for the fisherman, trout abound in the streams of Western North Carolina. Sand, sun and surf on the Carolina coast, one of the nation’s best, is an afternoon’s drive away. But there are opportunities near at hand to enjoy nature. Winston-Salem has many small and large parks, two within walking distance of the Medical Center.
Please contact the House Staff Office with any questions or concerns.