Welcome to the
Thomas Wolfe
State Historic Site
Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and the boardinghouse in which he grew up has earned the historic home a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
Announcements:
Step back in time to 1918 at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial for an unforgettable Living History experience inside the historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse. Meet a lively cast of characters and discover what daily life was like during Thomas Wolfe’s youth.
Stroll the grounds at your own pace as the boardinghouse comes to life around you. Play lawn games with the boarders, chat with someone preparing lunch in the kitchen, and explore the rooms and stories of the guests who once might have stayed here. Along the way, you’ll encounter fascinating personalities, including newlyweds honeymooning in Asheville, a traveling clothing salesman, a young stenographer recovering from the Spanish Influenza, and a seasoned train engineer passing through town. Each has a story to tell.
This self-guided experience allows you to linger, explore, and interact as much as you’d like while immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and stories of another era. Your attendance supports the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Committee and helps continue its mission of preserving Wolfe’s legacy while sharing his life and literature through education, cultural programs, and community events.
Hours of Operation
Tuesday – Saturday:
9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Closed State Holidays
Admission
House tours are offered daily
at half past each hour
Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm
Adult – $5 + tax
Military & Seniors (65+) – $4 + tax
Youth (3–17) – $1 + tax
2 & Under – Free
K-12 Groups – Guided tours remain free for
public, private, and registered home schools
Group tours by reservation.
Upcoming Events
RESCHEDULED – Thomas Wolfe’s Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
This tour, originally scheduled for May 23rd, was rescheduled due to inclement weather. Join us for a tour of Riverside Cemetery as we piece together fact and fiction by highlighting […]
1918 Summer Social
Step back in time to 1918 at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial for an unforgettable Living History experience inside the historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse. Meet a lively cast of characters […]
History
Learn more about the history of our site, the Wolfe Family, and Thomas Wolfe’s life and career.
Students
Check out our Historic Boardinghouse and Visitor Center activity pages, a student research project pack, and the Annual Student Writing Competition.
Teachers
Access more information on Elementary, Middle, and High School programs, and Reading and Writing Activities.
The Old Kentucky Home and Wolfe Family
1908. Courtesy of the Pack Library
Sneak Peek
Take a peek inside the Old Kentucky Home, with our Sneak Peek Preview
“From Cradle to Grave”
Downtown Walking Tour
Take a walk around downtown Asheville through Thomas Wolfe’s eyes…
Click here to access “From Cradle to Grave,” our Wolfe-themed walking tour of downtown Asheville
Follow the Memorial
For more up-to-date information on site programs and events, as well as for “behind the scenes” information on our history, artifacts and collections items, and other bits of trivia, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
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Our Latest Articles
- The House at 92 Woodfin: Spoiler Alert- It Was Julia’s House All Along
on March 28, 2026The House at 92 Woodfin, ca 1883. Unknown man standing in front, and possibly Mrs. Allen, Cynthia Wolfe’s mother, standing on front porch.By late 1879/early 1880, William Oliver Wolfe (WO) moved from Raleigh to Asheville with his second wife,
- A ‘Terrible and Beautiful’ Business: Wolfe Witnesses Childbirthon February 21, 2026
The Operating Room inside the Manhattan Maternity and Dispensary in NYC, courtesy of the Manhattan Maternity and Dispensary Annual ReportIn July of 1927, Wolfe visited old UNC classmate and fraternity brother Dr. J. Donald MacRae, who was interning
- Thomas Wolfe and the Lost Causeon June 25, 2025
It is a primary goal of the Memorial to keep Wolfe’s writings alive. We are actively working to tackle many topics, including those of a sensitive nature, to help fulfill this goal. Our newest blog post, “Thomas Wolfe and the Lost Cause,”
