New Exhibition Coming Soon The Photography of Andrea Clark: Remembering Asheville’s East End Community Opening Saturday, September 21st, 2024
Blog
Asheville Museum of History Seeks Programs Manager Position: Programs Manager The Asheville
Grounds and gardening volunteers help shape the experience of visitors by maintaining the museum landscape and the variety
Docents are at the front-line of our mission. Quite literally, you are likely to be the first and last person
Asheville Citizen-Times WNC History: Infidelity may have led to Guastavino’s move here, work on Biltmore, basilica Anne Chesky Sat, September
Recap and Notes for Quaker Meadows and Frankie Silver Grave Trevor Freeman – Asheville Museum of History Public Programs Director
Recap and Notes for Ashworth Cemetery and Sherrill’s Inn Trevor Freeman – Asheville Museum of History Public Programs Director This
Watch the video ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A popular tour is back! The Asheville Museum of History is
Brittain Church Graveyard and Biggerstaff Hanging Tree Tour Recap Trevor Freeman – Asheville Museum of History Public Programs Director This
WNC History: The wild ride of Asheville streetcars, 1889-1934 by Anne Chesky “One toddler joined a line of folks waiting
by Anne Chesky “The Captain Juan Pardo went out from the city of Santa Elena on November 1, 1566, to
History Feature: Of Mice and Museums New Exhibition Space Highlights Regional History Read in The Laurel – July 2023 By
Asheville Museum of History to open this fall Discover the history of WNC inside Asheville’s oldest surviving house. May 31,
Rumors of Babe Ruth’s death after Asheville stop were greatly exaggerated By Anne Chesky “Babe Ruth, American
Mose, Lucy, & Harry prior to 1854: Mose was purchased at “the widow Alexander’s sale.” January 7, 1854: Mose, Lucy,
Phillip Smith c1784: Phillip is born. February 9, 1850: Phillip is enslaved by James M. Smith, who refers to
Henry & Julia Ann & their children, McCama & George February 9, 1850: Julia Ann is likely married
Ben & Julius Ragsdale c1840: Ben is born. c1842: Julius is born. December 20, 1857: Ben and Julius’ captor, John P.
Tilda & Joe & their children, Alfred (Spears), Joe, Mary, Vina, & Jane Alfrod, age 19, is sold to
Lucy Ann & Tom c1840: Lucy Ann is born. February 9, 1850: Tom is a miller and is enslaved by
Alfred Walker February 9, 1850: A man named Alfred is enslaved by James M. Smith. Not much is known about
Miles & Charles (George’s sons) Swan/Luran February 9, 1850: Miles and his brother, Charles, are enslaved by James M. Smith.
George & Louisa Morris and son, William We are first introduced to George and Louisa via this will, written by
Bob & Lidia Haynes & children – Alexander Sy, Bob Hardin, Catherine, Betsey, Mose, and Caroline c1840: Caroline is
Sandy & John c1841: John is born. c1843: Sandy is born. April 23, 1853: 10-year-old Sandy and 12-year-old John are
Harriet and sons, William, Luran, & John Quillan & Allen c1809: Harriet is born October 31, 1844: 35-year-old Harriet and
Lucy Know all men by these presents that I William Hunter [sp?][illegible] of the county of Buncombe and the
James & Rebecca Bailey and their children, including Charlotte Bailey Scales “…I further direct that the girl Caroline in said
Zylpha Smith $310 paid by James M. Smith of Asheville (Alfred Fortune) Given all my interest in right of
Bob Bob was born around 1805. When he was about 14 or 15 years old, he escaped from James M.
George Avery In 1865, George Avery was a 19-year-old blacksmith enslaved by the McDowell family. It is likely he was
New Asheville Museum of History will open Fall 2023 For Immediate Release: April 20, 2023 Contact: Anne Chesky
“According to local legend, Beacon’s owner, Charles D. Owen, when Owen heard Martin’s masterful fiddling, he offered him a
The rich life of Lula Owl Gloyne, 1st RN and 1st World War I officer from Cherokee BY ANNE
Journey started in Asheville for 1st US woman to earn medical degree BY ANNE CHESKY “If I could have been
This trunk contains lesson plans, worksheets, images, teaching artifacts, music, and supplemental information relating to the Woodland Indians and Cherokee
Integration at Black Mountain College by Anne Chesky Smith “If Black Mountain College wants to have Negro students, it will
2021 was a year of growth and change for us as we expanded our programmatic offerings while also planning
‘Black Mountain Blues’ at Roseland Gardens “I’m bound for Black Mountain, me and my razor and my gun…I’m out
Inside the 1948 fire that killed Zelda Fitzgerald On March 9, 1948, Zelda wrote to her daughter, “there is promise
On this day in WNC history: Simmering tensions in the Walton “War” between North Carolina and Georgia finally turned deadly
“In George Masa’s Wild Vision, Brent Martin brings together Masa’s arresting images and his own reflections on walking
On this day in WNC history: After a rough ship crossing of the Atlantic and a lengthy train ride from
Carl Sandburg, an iconic American, gets a reappraisal John Quinley’s recently-published book “Discovering Carl Sandburg: The Eclectic Life of an
On this day in WNC history: After years of concerned citizens input and activism, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dropped
On this day in WNC history: The hard work and skill of farmers and women’s groups were presented to the
Waste Basket Boutique paper dresses were made in Asheville by Mars Women could get a paper dress, branded a “Paper
On this day in WNC history: In a previous post, we discussed a reported WNC duel which was simply a
On this day in WNC history: Amid the charged climate of the Reconstruction period, the Asheville Election Riot occurred on
On this day in WNC history: After a year disrupted by war and the 1918 flu pandemic, Ashevillians returned to
“Rockefeller was a real cheapskate. I asked him what he was doing, and he said it was his usual
Through Rock and Time: The Railroad Comes to the Mountains by Trevor Freeman “The railroad they were to build was
On this day in WNC history: As the contentious and pivotal election of 1898 drew near, Senator Jeter C. Pritchard
On this day in WNC history: Before an audience of 3,400 in the new City Auditorium, renowned singer Marian Anderson
A Ghost in Black Mountain “A guest named Petunia fell, or jumped, from a window in Room 13 of
On this day in WNC history: Popularly known as Asheville’s oldest gay bar, O.Henry’s (initially called the Skylight Room) opened
On this day in WNC history: With lead balls and cries of war filling the air around him, the young
On this day in WNC history: On October 3, 1880, the first passenger rail service arrived in Asheville at a
On this day in WNC history: Convening in the St. Paul AME Church in Raleigh, African American representatives from seven
On this day in WNC history: On October 2, 1929, deputies fired into a crowd of striking workers in Marion,
1882 Cowee Tunnel Disaster heroism, mistaken identity Ranging from 15 to 55 years of age at the time of
MLK’s trips to Black Mountain & Montreat “Solicitor Robert S. Swain of Buncombe County said Monday after conferring with
September 26, 1923: One of the most visible incidents of racial terror and intimidation in WNC began on this day
On this day in WNC History: During the midst of the Great Depression, the Black Mountain College opened to students
On this Day in WNC history: Though he made his remarks on the Tennessee side, on this day in 1940,
On this day in WNC history: The second hotel to stand on this prominent hill, Asheville’s new Battery Park Hotel
On this day in WNC history: Dubbed “the greatest event, politically at least, in the history of Asheville and Western
On this day in WNC history: After years of debate, revisions, construction, and even a bomb threat during the ceremony,
On this day in WNC history: Though they hailed from what is today western North Carolina (and several other states),
On this day in WNC history: Defeating the Nashville Cubs 2-1 in a game at McCormick Field, the Asheville Blues
On this day in WNC history: One of the most famous Asheville landmarks opened (unofficially) on this day in 1929
Who was the dead swindler on a pedestal in an Asheville funeral home? “I don’t care if he never
On this day in WNC history: Western North Carolina is a large region, comprising twenty-three counties. But did you know
On this day in WNC history: Western North Carolina is no stranger to flooding. The flood of 1916 wreaked unimagined
On this day in WNC history: On August 8, 1913, the Jackson County Journal reported the dangerous “Chestnut tree bark
On this day in WNC history: In 1985, one of Asheville’s iconic residents passed away at the age of 92.