Asheville - History

Asheville’s roots began as a primitive outpost at a crossroads of Indian trails. Famed frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett traveled through the area during its earliest days in search of undiscovered land and rivers.

In 1880, the arrival of the railroad transformed Asheville and Buncombe County into a resort and therapeutic health center. In just 10 years, the city’s population increased to 30,000 seasonal residents.

Among those seeking a mountain retreat was W. Vanderbilt, who came to Asheville, NC in the late 1880s in search of Asheville land and purchased 120,000 acres of pristine North Carolina mountain real estate to build his world renowned home. The endeavor took six years and Vanderbilt commissioned renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds and gardens, and celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt to help plan his magnificent mountain home. Biltmore Estate has withstood the test of time and is open today for the enjoyment of visitors.

Best selling author and American journalist Thomas Wolfe was born in Asheville and used his hometown as the backdrop for his autobiographical novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.”