Tours & Tickets
Museum Only
Visit the self guided galleries at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) and Old Salem located in the Frank L. Horton Museum center. We have three self-guided galleries:
- The Carolyn and Mike McNamara Southern Masterworks Gallery
- The William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
- The Dianne H. Furr Moravian Decorative Arts Gallery
$15 per adult, $15 per student/child (undergraduate students must show a college ID), plus tax; free entry for children 0-3 years old. Free for Friends of Salem and Friends of MESDA Members.
Two-Stop Ticket
Visit our self guided galleries AND an additional historic venue, or two historic venues of your choice.
$22 per adult, $10 per student/child (undergraduate students must show a college ID), plus tax; free entry for children 0-3 years old. Free for Friends of Salem and Friends of MESDA Members.
All-in-One
The All-In-One ticket for visiting Old Salem and MESDA can be purchased in advance here, or on-site at the Visitor Center, the Frank L. Horton Museum Center, and Winkler Book & Gift. Tickets give visitors access to all open buildings, including the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) Self-Guided Galleries.
All-In-One Tickets are $30 per adult, $16 per student (undergraduate students must show a college ID), plus tax; Children 0-3 years old are free. Free for Friends of Salem and Friends of MESDA Members.
Friday Afternoon Tours
Join us this summer for one hour long behind-the-scenes tours on select Fridays at 2:00 pm. Tours included with ticket purchase to Old Salem or MESDA. If you are planning to attend with a larger group, please give us a call at 336-721-7360 so that we can be prepared for your group.
June 20th: Stroll through the Silver Gallery with Virginia Van Valkenburg and hear the stories of some of our most unique pieces like the Bowie family silver service.
July 4th: On the day of American independence from Great Britain, enjoy a varied selection of objects that exemplify that spirit of freedom. Led by a lover of all things historical, MESDA guide Savannah Franz.
July 18th: Be some of the first visitors to see what’s new in the MESDA Collection. Lea Lane, Curator of the MESDA Collection, will amaze you with her breadth of knowledge of some very special North Carolina furniture.
August 1st: “Hidden in Plain Sight”-if you are curious about hidden compartments in furniture, then this is the experience for you. Our Manager of Museum Interpretation, Jane Sutton, will amaze you with how talented furniture makers were in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
August 15th: Pottery lovers, this tour is for you! Our renowned collection of southern pottery will come alive under the colorful guidance of our very knowledgeable guide, Clyde Manning.
August 29th: View the amazing needlework of young southern women and hear their stories with our Textile Curator, Jenny Garwood.
Two-Hour Connoisseur Tours
These tours, led by a knowledgeable guide, encompass all media and all three Southern regions, and can be tailored to suit your interests. We offer these tours Wednesday through Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Tours sell out fast, so booking early online is advisable.
Adults and Students • $75
Frank L. Horton, Frederic William Marshall, and Flora Ann Bynum Society Members • FREE
If available, tickets can also be purchased on the day of your visit.
Specialty Tours and Research Visits
We are happy to arrange special tours, collection studies, and research visits. To learn more about these options please visit our Research and Collections Appointments page or call the museum at 336-721-7360.
How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at The Frank L. Horton Museum Center located in the Old Salem Historic District at 924 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27101. Advance tickets for Two-Hour Connoisseur Tours can be purchased online. Arrangements for research and collection studies appointments can also be made online. In addition to cash, Old Salem Museums & Gardens accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards.