While some people might find it a bit odd to stroll around a cemetery, it seems that others quite enjoy it. Just look at any historic city and you will find lots of people traversing headstones and markers. In many cities, they even offer tours of their cemeteries, and some are legendary, such as Lafayette in New Orleans. I mean, hey, it is peaceful out here. And God’s Acre is no exception.

In April 1766, the Moravians chose the graceful hillside site for their burial grounds and named it Gottes Acker, or God’s Acre. In 1771, the site was cleared and surrounded by a fence. In June of that year, they held their first burial when they buried Brother John Brikhead. His grave can be found in the center of the old section and marked with an additional smaller stone stating "first grave."

Today, more than 10 acres have been devoted to the cemetery. The oldest graves are found in the back toward the center of the cemetery. When you first walk in, you can’t help but be impressed by the straight rows of single white makers. The graves when you first come in seem to date from the 1800 to 1900s. Members are not buried as families, but instead divided by their gender and material status. Their status is also known as choirs. Men, women, and children have separate areas of the cemetery. And as you might expect, married men are found first. Even today Moravians are still buried according to the practice.

On up towards the north side of the cemetery you can find the graves of Strangers who died while in Salem, as well as two different graves of African-American slaves. You will also find a private cemetery for those wishing to be buried as a family. Here members may have as fancy of grave stones as they wish. God’s Acre is reserved today for members of the 13 Moravian churches belonging to the Salem Congregation.

In 1772, the first sunrise Easter service was held in God’s Acre. The sunrise service is still held every Easter, attracting thousands of visitors from all over and from many different religions. After the Easter liturgy is read, the congregation moves in quiet procession while Moravian bands scatter throughout Old Salem and begin to play.

The cemetery is open from dusk to dawn every day and is a beautiful and peaceful place to walk around in. When you first walk in, you get a reminder of the modern-day Winston-Salem that lies just ahead, as you can see one of the modern-day skyscrapers looming in the southern sky. This is still a cemetery, so please be respectful. The cemetery is open to the public, and you do not need a ticket for entrance. Be warned: legend has it that not all the souls who were buried here are resting peaceful. The cemetery is said to be quite haunted!