Photo courtesy of Thomas Wolfe Memorial.

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Thomas Wolfe Memorial

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial in downtown Asheville, North Carolina preserves the childhood home of one of the giants of American literature. The "Old Kentucky Home" was immortalized in Thomas Wolfe's epic novel Look Homeward Angel.

The historic Victorian building 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.

Hours of Operation

9 am - 5 pm (Tuesday -Saturday)
1 pm - 5 pm (Sunday)

Admission Fees

Admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for students.

Hours of operation and fees are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.

Location

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

Thomas Wolfe Memorial
52 North Market Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 253-8304