Museum is OPEN for one-hour tours
Thursday – Saturday
at 10:30, Noon, 1:30, & 3:00
OUR PROGRAMS
Open for Pre-Booked Tours
Take a self-guided tour through Asheville’s oldest surviving brick home to learn more about our regional history through the eyes of its former occupants.
Exhibits
Visit our virtual exhibits, 1918 vs. 2020, Hillbillyland, Deep Dive in Archives, and Douglas Ellington. Check back regularly as we make more content available digitally.
Special Events
We offer a variety of events throughout the year. Join us for LitCafe, Outdoor Experiences, our Intro to WNC History Lecture Series, and more!
Awards
Since the 1950s, we have annually presented the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary and Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Youth Programs
Area educators can check out one of our many travelling trunks or bring their students to our Living History Days.
Collections
Our archival and object collections rotate on and off display in our period rooms and changing exhibits.
Image: George Avery, 1917
Formerly enslaved by the McDowell family, Avery became caretaker of the South Asheville Cemetery, WNC’s oldest public cemetery for African-American burials, after emancipation.
SHARING THE STORIES OF
PEOPLE & MOUNTAINS
The Western North Carolina Historical Association celebrates the enduring stories that define and shape our region. Through special exhibits and tours of the Smith-McDowell House, we strive to celebrate the stories of people from all backgrounds who have called western North Carolina home, with one key goal — to advance the understanding of our shared history.
