WINSTON-SALEM — MUSE Winston-Salem is expanding its Semiquincentennial Stroll program, adding additional walk dates this summer after high public demand, museum leaders said.
More opportunities to see downtown on foot
The guided, roughly two-hour walks begin and end at the MUSE building downtown and trace a route through several of the city’s historic and redeveloping districts. Organizer and MUSE executive director Mike Wakeford said the museum has scheduled extra sessions later this month and in August and is shifting most departures to mornings and evenings to avoid the midday heat.
“We’ve been doing these walks for the last couple of months and had had great interest shown in them,” Mike Wakeford said. “Even though July 4th has come and gone, we decided to add some more dates for our Semiquincentennial walk.”
Walkers are led from the museum to the edge of Old Salem, through the Brooks Industrial District, across a new pedestrian bridge over Salem Parkway and up past the former tobacco campus. The route highlights the layers of Winston-Salem’s history and the city’s changing built environment as the community marks the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Who should go and what to expect
- Duration: about two hours, starting and ending at MUSE Winston-Salem.
- Timing: additional dates added; morning and evening departures to avoid heat.
- Route highlights: Old Salem edge, Brooks Industrial District, new pedestrian bridge, former tobacco campus.
Wakeford noted the museum remains in a period of renovation after moving into the building and that the strolls are a way to engage the public even while traditional exhibits are not yet fully open. He recommended scheduling around heat and family needs; the museum has learned to avoid midday departures during warm months.
| Program | Length | Start/End |
|---|---|---|
| Semiquincentennial Stroll | ~2 hours | MUSE Winston-Salem |
The added dates expand access to a program aimed at connecting residents and visitors to Winston-Salem’s local story. For a city balancing historic preservation and redevelopment, such walks are a compact way to see how neighborhoods and landmarks fit into broader county and state histories — and to make cultural programming available while museum spaces are being completed.
For the most current schedule and ticketing information, prospective attendees should check MUSE Winston-Salem’s announcements or contact the museum directly.
