Salisbury: History, Art and Parks

Several themes can shape your travel plans in Salisbury: historic sites in Downtown, museums connected to Rowan County, art, parks and recurring events. If you’re looking for a hotel, your trip’s main focus can be a starting point. The examples vary in format—from a narrated trolley ride and changing exhibitions to park amenities and annual events.

Historic Downtown and Museums

The Historic Trolley Tours take visitors through Downtown Salisbury and past historic landmarks, with narration along the way. OctoberTour is an annual tour of historic homes, during which private homes and notable landmarks are opened to visitors. Dates and featured properties vary. If you’re traveling for this tour, check the specific dates and homes featured each year in advance.

The local Downtown Historic District encompasses all of downtown Salisbury. West Square is the city’s oldest designated historic district. These designations offer two perspectives on historic Salisbury: the district encompassing all of downtown and West Square as the oldest designated district.

The nonprofit Rowan Museum preserves and shares the history of Rowan County through educational programs and exhibitions. It is located in downtown Salisbury on North Main Street. The 1857 Old Courthouse in Salisbury hosts changing exhibitions on Rowan County history, spanning the period from its beginnings to the present. The historical focus thus ranges from the museum’s broad mission to the changing exhibitions in a specific courthouse.

Art and a Flexible Walking Tour

In the Railwalk Arts District, Railwalk Studios and Gallery brings together a group of art studios and a shared gallery. The Waterworks Visual Arts Center is a non-collecting art museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Visitor amenities include a sculpture courtyard, sensory gardens and three changing exhibitions each year. The Waterworks Visual Arts Center is two blocks from the Amtrak station.

The History And Art Trail uses history and art markers on sidewalks and buildings downtown. You can start the trail at any point; no particular order is required. This lets you explore by following the markers rather than a prescribed sequence.

Parks and Trails

Salisbury Parks and Recreation maintains 508 acres of parkland across 28 park properties and offers nearly 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. Bell Tower Green is a three-acre park downtown with play areas, entertainment spaces and open green spaces. The figures offer different perspectives: an overview of the parkland and trails maintained by the department, on the one hand, and the specific features of a named downtown park, on the other. This can help you decide whether parkland and trails or a particular park in the city center matters more to your trip plans.

Annual Events

The annual Cheerwine Festival brings music, food and family entertainment to downtown Salisbury. It features Cheerwine-inspired food, drinks and crafts, local vendors and artisans, and a family-friendly Fun Zone. Dates and program details vary; the offerings change from year to year. If the festival is a deciding factor in your stay, check the relevant event dates and program.

History on Tap is also an annual event; dates vary. It combines tours of three historic properties with tastings of local craft beer from New Sarum. The two event formats have different focuses: the Cheerwine Festival features music, food and family entertainment downtown, while History on Tap combines property tours and beer tastings.

Explore more destinations: Rockwell

Return to the regional travel overview: Rowan.