Winston-Salem Tobacco Historic District

The Winston-Salem Tobacco Historic District is a 31-acre industrial section containing 16 contributing buildings and 16 structures that developed between 1890 and 1959. The area displays a mix of massive tobacco warehouses and varied commercial buildings lined along several streets through the city center.

The area emerged around 1890 with the rise of major tobacco factories and soon became the center of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company operations. Over seven decades, the area grew with the industry and shaped the economic development of the entire city.

The district served as the economic heart for tobacco workers across generations and housed a thriving African American business quarter alongside wholesale trading zones. The spaces today show how daily life was interwoven with the tobacco industry.

The area is best explored on foot by following the boundaries along Chestnut Street, Fifth and Seventh Streets, Linden Street, and Fourth and Fogle Streets. Many buildings remain in private hands, but the street-level views offer good perspectives of the facades and overall layout.

The district contains the remarkably preserved S.J. Nissen Building with its Romanesque Revival architecture, standing out among more utilitarian warehouse structures. This single ornamental building speaks to the wealth and architectural ambition that the tobacco business created in the city.

Location: North Carolina

GPS coordinates: 36.10056,-80.24000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:10