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Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has received a $30,000 grant from North Carolina’s America 250 NC initiative for a project to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

America 250 NC is led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The project, “Winston-Salem: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” includes providing two educational field trips for all third grade WS/FCS students, which will highlight the city’s historical, civic, economic and cultural narratives.

Students will have the opportunity to visit key locations such as city hall, the Forsyth County Courthouse and the Forsyth County government building to understand local government operations. A visit to the central library will showcase the importance of public libraries in community life and civic engagement. Opportunities to see the former factory buildings of Hanes and Reynolds Tobacco, as well as Innovation Quarter, will offer insights into the city’s industrial past and modern transformation into a hub for innovation and technology. 

The students will also get to explore significant historical and cultural sites, such as the F.W. Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in and RJR Factory Workers Strike locations to learn about the city’s civil rights and labor rights movements. Finally, they will visit downtown cultural landmarks, including art installations and historic buildings, to appreciate Winston-Salem’s cultural diversity.

In addition to the Downtown Winston-Salem Tour, students will spend a day at Bethabara Park learning about the early settlers of Forsyth County. While visiting the village built in 1754, students will have the opportunity to participate in activities like woodworking, plowing and shingling, which would have been essential to keep the Bethabara community thriving. Through hands-on experiences, students will gain a deeper understanding of what life was like in the early days of the community.  

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ America 250 NC initiative recently disbursed nearly $900,000 in grant funds across 34 counties in the state. The grant program is designed to spark commemoration programs and activities on a local level.  

“These America 250 grants will serve as catalysts for local participation in the nationwide commemoration of our nation’s founding,” said DNCR Secretary Reid Wilson. “We look forward to working with communities across the state to build a memorable and meaningful celebration for all North Carolinians.”

For more information about America 250 NC, go to www.america250.nc.gov.