Salisbury, NC, the county seat of Rowan County, is known for its incredible history. It’s the oldest continuously-populated colonial town in the area and has ten National Register Historic Districts as well as five Local Historic Districts. Here are some of the area’s most important landmarks.
1. The Salisbury Railway Passenger Station
The Salisbury Railway Passenger Station was constructed in 1908 in the Spanish Mission style by Frank P. Milburn. It served as a mainline station between Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. Eventually, the station became vacant and was neglected.
The Salisbury Railway Passenger Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and, in 1984, it was bought by the Historic Salisbury Foundation. The Historic Salisbury Foundation spent more than 3.1 million dollars to restore the station. It now houses the Salisbury Amtrak Station, Studio 35, and the Historic Salisbury Foundation’s offices.
2. The Hall House
Originally, the Hall House was supposed to the Salisbury Female Academy’s classrooms. In 1825, Maxwell Chambers and Rebecca Troy purchased the property and Dr. Josephus Hall purchased it in 1859. Dr. Hall transformed it into a beautiful residence. After serving four generations of the Hall family, the Historic Salisbury Foundation purchased the building in 1972.
Today, visitors can see the original wallpapers, furnishings, and painted ceilings. The desk that Andrew Jackson used in the 1780s and a cannon used Salisbury’s Civil War Prison era can also be found at the Hall House.
3. The Brooklyn-South Square Historic District
The Brooklyn-South Square Historic District is just one of Salisbury’s many historic districts. It consists of 65 buildings and was mostly developed between 1875 and 1925. In 1985, the National Register of Historic Places recognized this district.
Some of the most notable buildings in the Brooklyn-South Square Historic District are the Cross-Crowell-Rufty Store from the 1920s, the Woodson-Overcash House from c. 1840, and Blackmer-Propst House from c. 1856, and the former St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
4. The North Main Street Historic District
In 1985, this area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It consists of 123 buildings that were mainly developed between 1900 and 1930. There are many incredible examples of Colonial Revival, Bungalow / American Craftsman, and Late Victorian-style architecture.
Visitors can see the Hines-Norman House, the A. G. Peeler House, the Trexler-McSwain Store, the North Main Street School, the Davis-Wilhelm House, the J. R. Crawford House, and more!
5. The Rowan Museum
The Rowan Museum can be found in the 1854 courthouse. It managed to survive General Stoneman’s raid during the Civil War and remains an incredible example of pre-Civil War architecture. With beautiful old rooms, a court on the second floor, and a public gathering place, the Rowan Museum displays Rowan County’s history.
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