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Historic Blue Ridge

Thomas Wolfe Memorial

A restored yellow Victorian house stands in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, a monument to the life and works of author Thomas Wolfe, who lived in the house for ten of his childhood years.

Known as "Old Kentucky Home," the property was operated as a boarding house by Thomas Wolfe's mother, Julia. Tour guides relate that Thomas Wolfe never knew what room he would be sleeping in each night, as Julia seized the opportunity to rent every room when possible.

Thomas Wolfe's unabashedly autobiographical novels and short stories depict the lives of Asheville's citizens, Julia Wolfe's boarders, and the tempestuous Wolfe family. Thomas Wolfe's realistic portrayals of Asheville and its citizens caused his novel Look Homeward Angel to be banned from his hometown library, and Wolfe exiled himself from Asheville for almost eight years.

Operated as a State Historic Site, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial includes a visitor center with exhibits about the author and his family and an audio-visual presentation. Guided tours of the house are also available.

A fire in 1998 destroyed some of the home and damaged many of the artifacts. For years, historians and conservation specialists worked to conserve and catalog the artifacts that were salvaged from the fire, while restoration experts brought Thomas Wolfe's house back to its authentic 1930s appearance.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial Hours of Operation
April – October            9 am to 5 pm (Tuesday –Saturday)
                                      1 pm to 5 pm (Sunday)

November – March      10 am to 4 pm (Tuesday – Saturday)
                                        1 pm to 4 pm (Sunday)

Thomas Wolfe Memorial Admission Fees
Admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for students.
*Prices are subject to change without notice & from what is listed on this website.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial Location
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is located on North Market Street in downtown Asheville.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial Visitors Center
52 North Market Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 253-8304
http://www.wolfememorial.com/