Greensboro North Carolina Civil Rights and Battlefields

Why visit Greensboro

Greensboro was founded in 1808 and named after General Nathanael Greene, who commanded American forces at the nearby Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781.

For visitors, the city combines nationally important history with family attractions and green space. You can stand at the lunch counter where four A&T students sat down in 1960, walk a Revolutionary War battlefield and see an aquarium and zoo, all in the same weekend.

Downtown Greensboro and civil rights history

Downtown Greensboro is compact and walkable, with museums, parks and restaurants along Elm Street.

International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Housed in the former F. W. Woolworth store on Elm Street, the museum preserves the lunch counter where four North Carolina A&T students began a sit-in on February 1, 1960.

Greensboro History Museum

Set in a former church downtown, this free museum tells the story of the city from Native American times to the present, with exhibits on Dolley Madison, who was born nearby, the writer O. Henry and the city's textile mills.

LeBauer Park and the Downtown Greenway

LeBauer Park is a lively downtown green with a children's area, food kiosks and a large suspended sculpture. The Downtown Greenway, a walking and cycling loop of about four miles, links parks, public art and neighborhoods around the center.

Blandwood Museum

Blandwood was the home of Governor John Motley Morehead and is considered one of the earliest Italian villa style houses in the United States. Guided tours show its restored rooms and furnishings.

Tanger Center and the Carolina Theatre

The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts, while the restored 1927 Carolina Theatre presents films, comedy and live music in a classic movie palace.

History, science and the north side

North of downtown are two of Greensboro's biggest attractions.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

This national park protects the site of the 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse, where Nathanael Greene's army fought British forces under Lord Cornwallis.

Greensboro Science Center

The Greensboro Science Center combines an aquarium, a zoo and a science museum, with penguins, sharks, red pandas and a planetarium. Its outdoor treetop adventure course is a favorite with older children.

Greensboro Arboretum and Bicentennial Garden

Greensboro has a string of free public gardens. The Bicentennial Garden is known for its flower beds and sculptures, the nearby Bog Garden has boardwalks through wetland, and the Greensboro Arboretum displays trees and plants from across the region.

Weatherspoon Art Museum

On the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the Weatherspoon Art Museum holds a strong collection of modern and contemporary American art, including works by Willem de Kooning and Henri Matisse prints. Admission is free.

Lakes, parks and day trips

Greensboro has more outdoor space than many visitors expect.

Lake Brandt and the watershed trails

Three reservoirs north of the city, Lake Brandt, Lake Higgins and Lake Townsend, are ringed by more than 40 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, with boat rentals in summer.

Wet'n'Wild Emerald Pointe

In summer, Wet'n'Wild Emerald Pointe, south of the city, is one of the largest water parks in the Carolinas, with a wave pool, slides and a lazy river.

Winston-Salem and High Point

Winston-Salem, about 30 minutes west, is home to Old Salem and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Food and local flavors

Greensboro sits in barbecue country, and the local favorite is Lexington-style barbecue, chopped pork shoulder served with a tangy red slaw and hushpuppies.

Downtown and the area around the universities have a lively mix of restaurants, breweries and coffee shops, and the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market has sold local produce, baked goods and flowers since 1874.

Where to stay

Downtown Greensboro puts you within walking distance of the civil rights museum, the history museum, LeBauer Park and many restaurants.

Friendly Center, in the west, offers hotels close to a large shopping district and easy access to the gardens.

Airport area, near Piedmont Triad International, has many chain hotels and quick access to Winston-Salem and High Point.

Fisher Park and Irving Park are leafy historic neighborhoods with a few inns and bed and breakfasts close to downtown.

Best time to visit

Spring from April to May, brings blooming gardens and comfortable temperatures.

Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon storms, but the lakes and water park are open.

Fall from September to November, is mild and dry, with colorful trees.

Winter is generally cool and mild, with occasional ice storms.

Getting there and getting around

By air: Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) is about 15 minutes west of downtown, and Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte airports are each about 90 minutes away.

By train: Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont trains stop at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot downtown.

By car: Interstates 40, 73, 85 and 840 meet around the city.

Getting around: A car is the easiest way to reach the battlefield and parks, while downtown is easy to explore on foot or by bike on the greenway.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start with a guided tour of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, then visit the Greensboro History Museum.

Second day

Spend the morning at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, then head to the Greensboro Science Center for the afternoon. Finish with a walk through the Bicentennial Garden.

Third day

Hike or bike the trails around Lake Brandt, or take a day trip to Old Salem in Winston-Salem.

Practical tips

• Book tours of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum ahead, since entry is by guided tour only.
• The national military park and several gardens and museums are free.
• Hotels fill up during the High Point Market in April and October and during university graduations.
• Bring water and sun protection for battlefield and lake trails in summer.

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