I didn't have business in Reidsville today, I just stopped in to see the Rockingham County Museum…read more It turned out to be one of those places where the building and the history are doing equal work. The museum lives inside the 1907 Rockingham County Courthouse, a Classical Revival structure designed by Frank Pierce Milburn. I've seen many of his buildings across the south. And so it's clear even before you walk in that you get the sense of early twentieth-century civic ambition with the hipped roof, the red tile details and the polygonal cupola that still anchors the structure. Knowing that this courthouse rose after the 1906 fire and after a long county seat fight between Wentworth and Reidsville gives the place a bit of an extra charge as the museum leans into that story rather than bury it. $10 for adults inside. The exhibits are woven through the old courtrooms and office spaces so you get these interesting moments where local industry, family histories and county politics sit against original woodwork and tall windows so that it feels like the building is telling half the story on its own. For a quick detour, it delivers a surprisingly rich look at Rockingham County's past while letting the courthouse architecture stay front and center. It's that combination that makes the museum worth the entry. [Review 633 of 2026 - 4721 in North Carolina - 25814 overall]

From the owner: With exhibits and archives to explore, architecture to admire, historic tavern tours, and hands on…read moreexperiences, the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County appeals to history lovers, families, and genealogists alike. ​ The MARC historic complex shows a fascinating and inclusive snapshot of Rockingham County's History. Experience the smell of a tobacco barn. See Native American artifacts. Learn how rivers sustained life and provided transit for people and goods. Find inspiration in the vision of local Civil Rights leaders. And enjoy cultural opportunities with others who value the past. ​

This place is a dream!…read more This Victorian house museum is located in Kernersville, NC, about a 10-minute drive of Winston-Salem (about an hour drive north of Charlotte).  My wife and I came here for the first time during Christmas week to celebrate my birthday, and what a treat it was! I mean, WOW! We absolutely loved it. The entire house features 22 rooms, 7 stories, 15 fireplaces and the first little theater in the U.S., and as you will see from the posted photos they do a beautiful job decorating it for Christmas.  Parking is free but a bit limited, so make sure to make it ahead of time. Also, I highly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time as the house gets pretty tight where there are large groups of people.  Overall, 100% recommended.

What a great experience! This house is so cool with so much rich history. Highly recommend checking…read moreit out on a cold winter day or rainy day. Great way to spend an hour or two. We took an hour and a half. We went during Christmas time and it was extra special! The staff was kind and full of knowledge on the place. A must see!

This marker is along NC 150. There isn't quite room to stop but it was quiet enough that I was able…read moreto pull over safely. The marker reads, "Also called Rockingham Springs. Council of State met here, 1790. Owned by John Lenox, Archibald D. Murphey, & Thomas Ruffin. Famous health resort." Online, there is more information. "Formed in 1785, Rockingham County was well known to many colonists for its beautiful environs and healthful environment. By 1790, Moravians from Salem and other nearby communities had discovered a mineral springs in the area that provided medicinal benefits for visitors and began to regularly send their ailing members to the springs. Other early visitors to the spring included Governor Alexander Martin who called a session of the Council of State to be held there in June, 1790. Because of the prevalence of sulphur springs, the area became known as Rockingham Springs and was identified as such on the 1808 Price-Strother map of the state." This is marker number J-59. It was erected in 1970 by the Department of Archives and History. [Review 2481 of 2024 - 3935 in North Carolina - 23493 overall]

This marker is located just outside of Reidsville and points out the history of this school. There…read moreis here to pull over and read the marker. And then you can read the below to learn more about it. The marker reads, "First free school in the state, established under Common School Law of 1839, opened January 20, 1840, in this vicinity." Online there is more information. "It has long been known that the first public school in the state opened in Rockingham County on January 20, 1840. That fact is cited in several textbooks. Less well known is the basis for this claim and especially difficult to determine is where that school was located in the county. The Common Law of 1839 authorized counties to hold elections in which voters might vote for or against taxes for public schools. In elections in late 1839 sixty-one of sixty-eight counties voted to support school taxes. The remaining seven counties soon followed course. By 1846 every county had at least one public school. "Notice of the opening of the Rockingham school appeared February 18, 1840, in the Greensborough Patriot and was reprinted the same month in the Raleigh Standard. The article indicated that the "first free school in Rockingham County went into operation on the 20th of January 1840." Further, it stated that "this is probably the first free school commenced in the State." The story did not specify the location of the school but did indicate that the county had been divided up into districts with houses to be completed and schools in operation in each "in a short time." "Tradition has it that the first school was located in the present Williamsburg community in the southeastern part of Rockingham County. Some accounts even refer to the "Williamsburg School." Since the community was known by other names as late as 1960, the reference appears to be ill-founded. However, support may be found for the claim that the general vicinity was the site of an early school. Deeds drafted in April and December 1840 transferred ownership of one acre from local parties to the Literary Fund for the "advancement of education and promotion of common schools." The tracts were in the general area of Hogan's Creek north of the Williamsburg community. It is impossible, with the available documentation, to fix precisely the location of the first school cited in the newspaper account but local tradition strongly supports the general vicinity of the site." This is marker number J-94 and it was erected in 1991 by the Division of Archives and History. [Review 2482 of 2024 - 3936 in North Carolina - 23494 overall]

A fun roadside attraction! It's much bigger than I expected…read moreit to be but also don't expect a full-blown village. Lots of structures to look at with significant detail. Take your time and enjoy this special roadside attraction. Don't forget to sign the guest book in the mailbox.

Shangri-La Stone Village is in Prospect Hill, NC. It is near the volunteer fire department, so if…read moreyou can find that, you will see Shangri-La. Admission is free and there was not anywhere to leave a donation but they do have a notebook that you can sign in and share your thoughts. The notebook in the box was from April and there have been many visitors since then. The Village was created with stone from a local quarry. He quarried the stone himself. Henry Warren created this village when he was 72 back in 1968. He was battling cancer at the time. He was a retired tobacco farmer and created 27 buildings that are pretty tall, I'd guess 4-6 feet tall, out of stone. He selected each piece and constructed it all himself. He used white flint rock, quartz, brick, and cement to create this masterpiece. I like that he used other items in his work like door knobs, table legs, ceramic and glass. The art in the designs is remarkable. His workmanship needs to be applauded as his work is still standing after decades. The Village has a mill with water wheel, a school, a church, a theater, a water tower, a farmhouse, a doghouse, an outhouse, a motel, a general store, a jail, a library, a liquor store, and City Hall. He was working on the hospital when he died and his family completed that for him. He finished in 1972 and put up a plaque in the front that says, "Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." Visitors are welcome to tour his creation at any time and for free. Children who came to visit would leave toys to enjoy the village so it was fun to see who was living in the village. Warren died at 84 years old back in 1977 but left behind his work of love for all of us to still enjoy. So if you get a chance, stop by and enjoy his work and take in the whimsy and feel the magic.

A piece of history in my back yard. The docents were great. Take the kids/grandkids.read more

This is a great side trip for anyone in the area sightseeing. Tours are offered from April to…read moreOctober on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but the grounds are open for touring even when the tours are not going on. I haven't made it to a tour yet but I really enjoyed walking around the grounds. Things to see include: the main house, a smoke house, a creamery, the family cemetery, a tobacco barn, the African American cemetery, and the friendship garden. They have been working on the African American cemetery, which needs a lot of help/maintenance. There is also a short woodland trail that goes to a platform within a dense grove of pines. If you can make it out in the fall, this place is absolutely stunning but it's pretty all throughout the year.

Blandwood Mansion is a privately owned museum in Downtown Greensboro. The museum opened in 1984…read moreafter Preservation Greensboro acquired the property in 1966 as it was going to be demolished. After preserving the building and reconstructing out buildings that had been torn down. The museum offers tours on the hour. The house was the home of NC Governor John Motley Morehead. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In 1988 it was named at National Historic Landmark because of its architecture. It is the oldest Italianate architecture in the country. Governor Morehead was the 28th Governor on North Carolina and served two terms from 1841 to 1845. He had eight children that were raised at Blandwood. Eight women and nine men were enslaved at the home. The Blandwood Mansion is Italianate architecture. The current house is the original house and two additions. The original farmhouse was built in 1795 and the first addition was made in 1822. The second expansion was in the 1844-1846 in the Italianate style by AJ Davis. The house is decorated as it would have been when Governor Morehead lived there. The house is in great condition and contains original items of the Moreheads that were donated back to the museum by descendants. The kitchen is not original but one of the reconstructed buildings according to the plans they found during a dig. The kitchen also houses the gift shop. The museum does not have a parking area but you can park on a nearby street. I was charged $8 admission to take the guided tour throughout the house. Masks are required to tour the museum. Hand sanitizer was also available inside. I arrived on the half hour but was allowed to join a tour in progress and then complete the first half afterwards. I expected that I'd need to wait until the next tour so was pleasantly surprised. I also bought items in a gift shop and when a bag wasn't available the tour docent offered up his bag for me to use which was very thoughtful. After my tour I realized that I need to learn more about this house and Governor Morehead and his family. I highly recommend this tour to other history buffs.

Had an amazing tour guided by Thomas! Best historical tour I've ever experienced. He went, what…read morefelt like was, above and beyond to make our experience unique and memorable. His knowledge of the family and grounds had me in awe. Would recommend this incredible experience to anyone visiting or passing through this area. Blandwood Museum is lucky to have someone who cares so much about the building and history guiding visitors through the beautiful grounds!!