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The Thomas Wolfe House, also known as the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, is a state historic site, historic house and museum located at 52 North Market Street in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The American author Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938) lived in the home during his boyhood.
- Hours and Location
- Admission
- Guided Tours
- Facilities
- Programs, Group Activities
Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday, and most major holidays 52 N. Market St. Asheville, N.C. 28801
Adults - $5 Children - $2 Pre-registered adult groups are $2.50 per person. School groups are $2 per person.
Guided tours of the historic "Old Kentucky Home" are offered daily at the bottom of each hour. We ask that groups make reservations in advance. Group Reservations
Historic Structures
1. The early 20th-century boardinghouse called "Old Kentucky Home," was the childhood home of novelist Thomas Wolfe. First opened as a Memorial to the author in 1949, the 29-room house is now owned and operated by the state of North Carolina. Today, the historic home is set up as it was ca. 1916, with over 85% original furnishings and artifacts.
Visitor Center
1. An exhibit hall and audiovisual program depicting Wolfe’s life and literature are located in the visitor center. The center also contains a display of art inspired by the writings of Thomas Wolfe.
Trails, Monuments, Outdoor Exhibits
1. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is featured as a stop on Asheville's Urban Trail, denoted by bronzed replicas of Thomas Wolfe's shoes on the old brick street in front of the historic house. The Wolfe children's playhouse is also on the property. "From Cradle to Grave: Walking in Thomas Wolfe's Shoes" is a downtown walking tour featuring parts of Asheville that Thomas Wolfe saw during his lifetime, and many that he remembered in his writing. Available for download below, this walking tour booklet...
Every October the Memorial celebrates Thomas Wolfe's Birthday month with special programming. In December, the home is decorated for our angel-themed Christmas, and the site hosts its annual Holiday Open House and wreath auction. January-April the Memorial hosts a Wolfe Short Story Book Club discussion once a month. In the summer, the Writers at Wo...
Old Kentucky Home — The Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel.
Thomas Wolfe left an indelible mark on American letters. And his mother's boardinghouse in Asheville, North Carolina, now the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, has become one of literature's most famous landmarks.
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Even if you don't know anything about Thomas Wolfe, the sprawling 29-room Thomas Wolfe House(in pic above) and its history is very fascinating.
- Vance Birthplace State Historic Site. Explore this pioneer farmstead about 12 miles north of downtown Asheville. It is the birthplace of Zebulon Baird Vance, the 37th and 43rd Governor of North Carolina, and U.S. Senator in the mid 1800s.
- Smith-McDowell House. Just a few miles from Biltmore Estate is the first mansion and oldest house in Asheville. The Smith-McDowell Housenow also serves as the local history museum with a variety of exhibits and period furnishings.
- Shelton House. This 1875 plantation-style house is now home to the NC Museum of Handicrafts. Located in downtown Waynesville, it's open May-October. Your guided tour takes you through many rooms packed with creations by artists and designers from our state.
Apr 13, 2024 · Explore the best museums in Asheville for history, art, and science lovers. Then, visit famous historical sites, like Biltmore Estate, and even stroll a spooky cemetery. As Asheville locals, these are the museums we most enjoy. Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum.
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Visit this pioneer farmstead, tucked in the Reems Creek Valley about 10 miles from downtown Asheville. It's the birthplace of NC Governor Zebulon Vance. The five-room log house, reconstructed around original chimneys, and its outbuildings are furnished to evoke the period from 1795-1840.
