In March of 2024, we reported on Triad Cultural Arts, Inc.'s efforts to preserve two shotgun houses in the Happy Hill neighborhood. After years of work and raising over $300,000, those efforts have culminated in a fully restored 120-year-old Shotgun House that will serve as a museum.
What are shotgun homes?
The Shotgun House is one of the last surviving examples of an architectural style from the Southern US that originated in West Africa’s Yorubaland. The word “shotgun” derives from the Yoruba word “to-gun” which means “place of assembly” or “where people gather.”
Locally, the Shotgun House Legacy Site is located in Winston-Salem’s first-planned Black community, Happy Hill, which was founded back in 1872.
The restoration
The now-restored shotgun house will serve as a living house museum (a museum that recreates settings or scenes from history). Expect to see exhibits that tell the stories of African American families who lived in similar homes + feature furnishings and artifacts from the time.
The home will also include rotating displays that focus on important historical moments like the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement.
When can I go?
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, a free Community Day Celebration will take place on Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with a chance to tour the Shotgun House, get a glimpse into the restoration process, and learn about upcoming museum panels. In the meantime, take a peek inside.
The Shotgun House is set to be open full-time beginning fall 2025.
