Reynolda House offers glimpse of history in Winston-Salem

Jun. 22—Tobacco was king in North Carolina when R.J. Reynolds and his wife Katharine moved into their home, the Reynolda House in Winston-Salem.

After arriving in North Carolina in 1874, R. J. Reynolds set up a plug tobacco factory and incorporated his business in 1888. R.J. and Katharine were married in February of 1905 — he was 55 and she was 25. They soon had four children.

According to a history told at the home, which now houses a museum, Katharine began purchasing land outside of Winston. Over the next 13 years, these land purchases become the Reynolda estate.

Last weekend, my wife Laurie suggested a trip to visit the Reynolda House. My son was in town for Father's Day, so we headed off to explore. Laurie had attended an art workshop at the house last fall and knew we'd all enjoy touring it.

The home was designed by architect Charles Barton Keen of Philadelphia. Construction began in 1912. The Reynolds family moved in just in time for Christmas 1917.

R.J. Reynolds died in July 1918, but Katharine and the family remained and the community and the gardens continued to grow. Katharine later married J. Edward Johnston, principal of the Reynolda School. In 1924, Katharine died after giving birth to a son, J. Edward Johnston Jr.

But the house remained in the family and eventually in 1953, the gardens were donated to Wake Forest University to be preserved as a "haven for contemplation and reflective outdoor leisure."

From there, the house and gardens grew into what it is known for today. In 1965 it opened to the public and was dedicated to the arts and education. The art museum opened in 1965 with a collection of 12 American paintings. It has continued to grow since.

The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Monday. Tickets for the general public are $18, though there are a number of free categories — including students, active military, teachers and more. The gardens and grounds are free to explore.

We spent several hours enjoying the art and furnishings on the inside. It was a great chance to get caught up with my son — who just like his dad, loves to travel and learn about history. There's also a lot to explore in Winston-Salem, including Old Salem. There are of course, lots of great places to eat — my son picked up the tab for Father's Day — but those are stories for another time.

The Reynolda House is a great piece of North Carolina history.

There are so many things about this state I've discovered since moving here, and I can't wait to explore more.

Mark Rogers is editor of The Sanford Herald. He and his wife, Laurie often spend weekends exploring what North Carolina has to offer. He can be reached by email at [email protected]