CONVERSATION SERIES 2025
We hope you will join us for all four Conversations by pre-buying a series subscription. Each Conversation will be in the intimate galleries of the Asheville Museum of History in the historic Smith-McDowell House. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of each Conversation.
Subscriptions for the four-part series are $100, a savings of $20 over the individual ticket price of $30. Tickets are limited, so we encourage you to reserve now. For any questions, please contact Steven Nickollof, Programs Manager, at education@ashevillehistory.org or call 828-253-9231.
PURCHASE SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS HERE
Tuesday
April 29th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
BOB & AUDIE BAYER
During the mid-1960s, Audie and Bob Bayer of Mars Manufacturing added a surprise line to their garment manufacturing company. It was called Waste Basket Boutique and it featured paper dresses and other articles of clothing, including swimsuits. At its peak, Mars Manufacturing was producing 80,000 paper dresses a week. The dresses were shipped all over the world. These same paper dresses were the subject of a recent major exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and continue to receive attention, including on the television series Antiques Road Show.
Thursday
May 22nd, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
TODD BAILEY
Todd Bailey followed in his father’s footsteps and became a lawyer in his hometown of Burnsville. Throughout his life, however, he has become a noted collector of first editions, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and ephemera related to Thomas Wolfe, one of America’s most noted writers who was born in Asheville. Todd has lectured widely on Thomas Wolfe and has served as president of the Thomas Wolfe Society of America.
Tuesday
June 10th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
DAN MATTHEWS
As Rector of Trinity Church on Wall Street on September 11, 2001, The Rev. Dr. Dan Matthews was an eyewitness to the deadly terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center from his office 200 yards away. Following the attacks, he transformed St. Paul’s Chapel into a place of respite and refuge for recovery workers, providing meals, beds, counseling, and physical and spiritual support. Dan grew up in Canton with a love of the mountains. With his wife Deener, he created a mountain top hiking resort near the Cataloochee boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has served as Chair of the Board of Friends of the Smokies.
Thursday
June 26th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
BECKY ANDERSON
In 1993, community economic development pioneer Becky Anderson began HandMade in America, a craft-focused non-profit organization. HandMade stemmed from Becky’s idea of a craft-based economy in small communities in Western North Carolina, an area rich in craft tradition. She helped individuals and communities develop marketing plans that brought crafts to light. HandMade received broad attention and its model was used throughout the U.S. and in other countries. U.S. News and World Report named Becky Anderson one of 20 American visionaries.
CONVERSATION SERIES 2025
Among the vast number of fascinating and legendary stories about Asheville and Western North Carolina are four stories that will be the subjects of salon-style conversations at the Asheville Museum of History this Spring and Summer. Seating is limited, so sign up today to secure a seat at this special series.
We hope you will join us for all four Conversations by pre-buying a series subscription. Each Conversation will be in the intimate galleries of the Asheville Museum of History in the historic Smith-McDowell House. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of each Conversation.
SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS
Subscriptions for the four-part series are $100, a savings of $20 over the individual ticket price of $30. Tickets are limited, so we encourage you to use the link below to reserve now.
For any questions, please contact Steven Nickollof, Programs Manager, at education@ashevillehistory.org or call 828-253-9231.
CONVERSATION SERIES
CALENDAR
Tuesday
April 29th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History
at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
BOB & AUDIE
BAYER
During the mid-1960s, Audie and Bob Bayer of Mars Manufacturing added a surprise line to their garment manufacturing company. It was called Waste Basket Boutique and it featured paper dresses and other articles of clothing, including swimsuits. At its peak, Mars Manufacturing was producing 80,000 paper dresses a week. The dresses were shipped all over the world. These same paper dresses were the subject of a recent major exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and continue to receive attention, including on the television series Antiques Road Show.
Thursday
May 22nd, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History
at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
TODD BAILEY
Todd Bailey followed in his father’s footsteps and became a lawyer in his hometown of Burnsville. Throughout his life, however, he has become a noted collector of first editions, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and ephemera related to Thomas Wolfe, one of America’s most noted writers who was born in Asheville. Todd has lectured widely on Thomas Wolfe and has served as president of the Thomas Wolfe Society of America.
Tuesday
June 10th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History
at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
DAN MATTHEWS
As Rector of Trinity Church on Wall Street on September 11, 2001, The Rev. Dr. Dan Matthews was an eyewitness to the deadly terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center from his office 200 yards away. Following the attacks, he transformed St. Paul’s Chapel into a place of respite and refuge for recovery workers, providing meals, beds, counseling, and physical and spiritual support. Dan grew up in Canton with a love of the mountains. With his wife Deener, he created a mountain top hiking resort near the Cataloochee boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has served as Chair of the Board of Friends of the Smokies.
Thursday
June 26th, 2025
7 p.m.
Asheville Museum of History
at the Historic Smith-McDowell House
BECKY ANDERSON
In 1993, community economic development pioneer Becky Anderson began HandMade in America, a craft-focused non-profit organization. HandMade stemmed from Becky’s idea of a craft-based economy in small communities in Western North Carolina, an area rich in craft tradition. She helped individuals and communities develop marketing plans that brought crafts to light. HandMade received broad attention and its model was used throughout the U.S. and in other countries. U.S. News and World Report named Becky Anderson one of 20 American visionaries.