2004
Thomas Wolfe Memorial, NC Department of Cultural Resources

The NC Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR( was honored for its restoration of Thomas Wolfe’s Old Kentucky Home following a devastating fire. They spent six years and $2.4 million rehabilitating the Queen Anne style boardinghouse where Thomas Wolfe spent much of his childhood. The house reopened in 2004 with improved accessibility, a new heating and cooling system, and a fresh coat of exterior yellow paint. Although the house was painted white at the time of the fire, historians believe it was yellow during Wolfe’s residency.  WNCHA recognized NCDCR for its commitment to thoroughness and accuracy in its restoration.