Davidson County: Museums, Motorsport and Regional Traditions

The Davidson County Historical Museum is housed in a 19th-century courthouse. Motorsport history, regional festivals and historic walking tours offer additional ways to experience different sides of the destination. Lexington and Thomasville each provide their own points of interest for visitors.

Courthouse and Motorsport History

The Davidson County Historical Museum is located in the Old Davidson County Courthouse, completed in 1858 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its exhibits showcase material culture from 12,000 years of history. The building and collection connect a specific place with a broad historical perspective: the courthouse represents 19th-century architectural history, while the exhibits span a much longer period.

The Richard Childress Racing Museum offers a different historical perspective. It traces the development of an independent one-car team into one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR. It is housed in a former racing workshop with 47,000 square feet of space, which was home to Earnhardt’s No. 3 team for many years. The collection includes the largest collection of No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolets. These include the winning car from the 1998 Daytona 500 and the winning car from the 1995 Brickyard 400. NASCAR fans will find both the organization’s history and specific cars associated with two race victories here.

Lexington: Barbecue and Wine Country

Lexington is the southern gateway to Yadkin Valley wine country. The Lexington Barbecue Festival is also a highlight of the events calendar: it takes place annually on one of the last two Saturdays in October in Uptown Lexington. For the festival, a nine-block stretch of Main Street is closed to traffic; the exact setup may vary by year. Check the dates and event details for the relevant year before your trip. This will help you plan your visit around the specific festival edition.

The Everybody’s Day Festival is another recurring event in Thomasville. It takes place every year on the last Saturday in September and is more than 100 years old. If you’d like to plan your visit around it, check the current events calendar before traveling. Both festivals offer a specific seasonal draw, but they take place in different months.

Thomasville on Foot and Through a Historical Lens

Thomasville has three self-guided historic walking tours. Each is less than one mile long as a round trip. The distance applies to all three routes and gives you a clear reference point when weighing shorter historical explorations against other activities. The Thomasville Mural Walk is a public art initiative: a series of murals celebrates the city’s history, culture and community spirit.

The Thomasville City Cemetery Museum can be visited by appointment only. Factor this access requirement into your plans. The Blue Walk is particularly suitable for families, people with mobility impairments and those with strollers; check the conditions before your visit. These two notes can help you tailor your plans to the relevant access conditions and your own needs.

Wine Tasting, Market and Other Activities

Childress Vineyards offers a 45-minute guided tour of its landscaped grounds and event spaces, including a complimentary pour of wine. Wines are also served with tapas in the Barrel Cave. Reservations and availability may change, so it’s a good idea to check before your visit. The tour and tasting are two different ways to experience the winery.

The Thomasville Farmers Market is exclusively producer-run. Certified producers from Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph and Rowan counties are eligible to participate. Visitors can shop directly from producers without intermediaries. Check the current market schedule before your trip.

Other activities in Thomasville range from golf to swimming and baseball. Winding Creek is a municipal 18-hole, par-72 golf course. The Thomasville Aquatics Center has a lap pool, a recreation pool and a splash area; check current operating information before your visit. The High Point-Thomasville HiToms play their home games at Historic Finch Field, built in Thomasville in 1935. Alongside historic walking tours, you can choose from sporting activities and a venue with its own architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Lexington, Thomasville, Surry County, Wayne, Cleveland, Harnett County, Clay County, Orange

For the overview of the wider region: North Carolina.