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THE SMITH-MCDOWELL HOUSE MUSEUM
283 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
828-253-9231
An infant's cradle, draped with
fabric to keep the mosquitos
away during the summertime.
Built by one of antebellum North Carolina’s most influential citizens, this National Register property was once the home of mayors, a Confederate Major, and friends of the Vanderbilts at nearby Biltmore Estate.
In addition to restored period rooms spanning 1840 through 1900, the Museum also features special history exhibits in its Gallery Rooms. Be sure to visit for our acclaimed Victorian Christmas Celebration and other seasonal events.
Now undergoing restoration, the Museum’s grounds are an Official Treasured Tree Preserve and were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. in 1900. The Museum’s grounds are also home to the Buncombe County Civil War Memorial.
We have a lot more information available:
- More on the house’s history
- The house’s architecture
- A selection of important historical objects in the museum's collection
- The early history of Buncombe County and the Drovers' Road
- The Buncombe County Civil War Memorial
- Alexander Garrett, George Pack, and Foster Sondley
Hours
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and major holidays.
Admission
| Regular | Christmas Season | |
| Adult | $5 | $7 |
| Students (with ID) | $4 | $6 |
| Children (5 to 18) | $3 | $5 |
| Children under 5 | Free | Free |
Discounts available for AAA members and groups of 15 or more.
VISA and MasterCard accepted.
Directions
The Museum is located on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College at 283 Victoria Road in Asheville, NC. Please note that Victoria Road cannot be directly accessed from McDowell Street. When in doubt, follow the signs to A-B Tech College.
From I-40:
Take Exit 50 toward Biltmore Estate and downtown Asheville. Proceed ½ mile and stay to the right as the road forks (Biltmore Ave./Hwy. 25 North). Proceed 1 mile and turn left onto Victoria Road at the signal by Mission Hospital's St. Joseph Campus. The Museum is located ½ down Victoria Road on the right.
From I-240:
Take Exit 5B (Charlotte Street) toward downtown Asheville. Travel .9 mile and turn left onto Biltmore Ave./Hwy. 25 South. Proceed .6 mile. Turn right onto Victoria Road at the signal by Mission Hospital's St. Joseph Campus. The Museum is ½ mile down Victoria Road on the right.
Accessibility
We strive to serve our visitors with physical impairments. However, the Museum is a multi-story historic structure surrounded by gravel walkways. By using our back entrance that is adjacent to designated handicapped parking, all visitors will have full access to our main level without climbing stairs and may view a video of areas accessed only by stairs. The main level includes some period rooms, special exhibit galleries, and lecture/programming rooms. Please let us know if you have any special needs so that we may assist you.