Wake Forest Historic District Walking Tours

Preservation Month Walking Tours

The Town of Wake Forest is celebrating Historic Preservation Month in May by offering free walking tours of the Northeast Community, Local Historic District (North Main Street), and South Main Street.

Pre-registration is required for each tour by completing the online sign-up form. Space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up for each tour.

Led by staff from Historic Preservation Planning Program, each tour will include discussions of the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who shaped the community. Tours are outside only and will not include the inside of individual homes or buildings.

Each tour is approximately 90 minutes and will be offered according to the following schedule:

• Northeast Community - Wednesday, May 15, at 10 a.m. (rain date is Friday, May 17, at 10 a.m.) 
  Attendees will meet at Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St., to learn about Wake Forest’s historically African American neighborhood and its significant culture and history.

• This Tour is full! Local Historic District - Wednesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. (rain date is Friday, May 24, at 10 a.m.) 
  Attendees will meet at the corner of North Main Street and East Walnut Street at the Wake Forest Historical Museum to learn about the history of Wake Forest north of and including the Old College Campus. 

• This Tour is full! South Main Street - Wednesday, May 29, at 10 a.m. (rain date is Friday, May 31, at 10 a.m.) 
  Attendees will meet at the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave., to learn about the area south and west of the Old College Campus.

For more information, contact Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael at 919-435-9516 or [email protected].

Register Now

Virtual Tours

The Town of Wake Forest is proud of its rich heritage. That heritage is visible through the many historic buildings and districts that contribute to the character of our beautiful town. There are several opportunities to learn about the Town's history and its historic districts including taking a virtual walking tour or visiting the Wake Forest Historic Museum. Guided walking tours are offered occasionally by the Historic Preservation Commission staff and/or the Wake Forest Historical Museum. Information about future tours will be available on this page. However, you can experience historic Wake Forest first hand by taking advantage of the Town's self-guided virtual tours of the Local Historic District, Downtown and Town Cemetery. Printed brochures are also available at Town Hall, the Wake Forest Historical Museum, and the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce. Please click on the links below to access the Town's virtual tours.

Wake Forest Local Historic District Tour

Downtown Wake Forest National Register Historic District

Wake Forest Cemetery

Attention History Buffs!

Anyone interested in the history of Wake Forest is encouraged to visit the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St. The museum is free and open Tuesday-Friday, 9 am-noon and 1:30-4:30 pm.

The Historic Preservation Commission has also published walking tour brochures of the Downtown Historic District and Local Historic District. Both brochures are available at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. or at the Wake Forest Historical Museum.

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