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Triad Cultural Arts held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, February 28, for its living history museum, the Shotgun House Legacy Site! The Shotgun Legacy Site preserves Black history in Winston-Salem, ensuring future generations can experience what life was like for Black residents in the early 20th century.
March 3, 2025
What is the Shotgun House Legacy Site?
Located in Happy Hill, the Shotgun House Legacy Site features two shotgun houses from the early 20th century. The historic site serves as a living history museum where visitors can learn what life was like for the early 20th-century Black residents who lived there.
- Old and New: One of the shotgun houses, pictured above, underwent an extensive restoration process and is open for tours. The second shotgun house has been preserved without any modifications.
What Are Shotgun Houses?
Shotgun houses are rectangular structures one room wide and up to three rooms deep that feature a front porch. The architectural style of shotgun houses originated in Yorubaland (West Africa).
- Fun Fact: The term “shotgun house” comes from the Yoruba word “to-gun,” which means a place of assembly.
Why It Matters
The City of Winston-Salem demolished about half of the homes in Happy Hill in the 1950s for a public housing development, and most of the remaining houses have been destroyed in subsequent years. The Shotgun House Legacy Site ensures that these historic buildings are preserved for future generations.
- Did You Know? Only 3% of historic sites listed in the United States’ National Register of Historic Places focus on Black history or culture.
Looking Ahead
Triad Cultural Arts also announced the plans for the Shotgun House Legacy Site Multi-Use Center, which will be built in between and behind the two existing shotgun houses.
The Multi-Use Center will feature a welcome pavilion, a 120-seat auditorium, an exhibition/event space, community spaces, and a gallery.
Take a Tour
You can experience the Shotgun House Legacy Site for yourself this Saturday, March 8, at Triad Cultural Arts’ free Community Day Celebration. This is the only public tour until fall, though you can privately tour the Legacy Site on Triad Cultural Arts’ heritage tour!
Want to learn more about local history? Check out our museum guide!
