by Chris McMaster

Created on: August 12, 2011   Last Updated: August 15, 2011

The town of Salisbury, North Carolina is rich in American history. Formerly the site of the only prisoner of war camp in North Carolina, Salisbury has raised notably people such as: NBA great Bobby Jackson, Senator Elizabeth Dole and the extremely wealthy Julian Robertson. The city itself is also surprisingly accessible, with walking tours and history seemingly around every corner.  Salisbury is also famed for how well they

preserve their historical treasures. The combination of American history in a rich small town America atmosphere makes Salisbury a must stop for any history lover.

Attractions

Salisbury’s greatest attraction is the gorgeous historical architecture scattered throughout downtown.  Many of the town’s structures date back to the early 20th and even 19th centuries. This makes the town feel like it’s right out of the Civil War, with sturdy brick structures and rolling green lawns. Of course, Salisbury did play a large part in the American Civil War, as it was home to the Salisbury Confederate Prison; a monument to those lost in one of America’s defining eras. The prison has only one structure remaining, but it is available and open for all to visit.

Salisbury is also home to the Rowan Museum, one of the best American history museums in the world. The museum is open 7 days a week to the public, and is free of charge. In it, one would find a wealth of American history, both before and after the historic civil war. The museum also has a library nearby, with many historic texts preserved for the public. As a free attraction, Rowan Museum is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon.

Tours

If you want to experience Salisbury from the eyes of a local, a walking tour is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.  For a general tour of the city’s historic sites, The Heritage Tour will take you through many of central Salisbury’s historic attractions. You’ll see a surprising amount of 19th century housing, most of which was home to some key players in history. You will also find out how the town survived 150 years ago, as much of the city has been preserved to this day. For something a little scarier, many of the attractions of The Heritage Tour are featured in the city’s Ghost Walk, a tour ripe in both historical facts and chilling tales.

To visit Salisbury’s Civil war era on your own, there is also The Civil War Driving Tour, which will take you across Salisbury’s many judicial structures. Not just for those with cars, the tour is surprisingly efficient, and could be done easily on foot for those wishing to make a day of it. The tour will also take you to The Confederate Prison’s guard house, the last remaining structure of the camp. For those seeking a wealth of Americana history in a quiet rural town, look no further than Salisbury with its original architecture and treasure trove of information.

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