Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us as we welcome Fall and explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!

Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Look Homeward, Asheville: A Downtown Walking Tour Through Thomas Wolfe's Eyes
2025-09-13 10:00 - 11:30 | NC
We’re kicking off Fall by resuming our guided downtown tours!

Step into the world of Thomas Wolfe with this guided walking tour through downtown Asheville- Wolfe’s hometown and the vivid backdrop for his (in)famous novel Look Homeward, Angel.

The tour begins at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial at the front of the Historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse where Wolfe spent his childhood. From there, participants will stroll through downtown exploring sites connected to Wolfe’s life.

Throughout the walk, our guide will share excerpts from Wolfe’s writings, anecdotes about his life, and insights into the Asheville of the early 20th century. Roughly 90 minutes, the tour will finish at the First Presbyterian Church, where our guide will be happy to chat and answer questions with anyone who wants to learn more!

Tickets for this special tour are $10/person and must be purchased online. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Please arrive 10 minutes early to check in with your tickets (printed or e-tickets are fine). If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the Memorial at 828-253-8304. Thank you for your support

Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2025-09-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us as we explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!

Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Special Evening Tour of Riverside Cemetery
2025-10-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
In celebration of Thomas Wolfe’s 125th Birthday, join us for a SPECIAL EVENING TOUR of Riverside Cemetery where guests will also encounter a handful of characters from beyond the grave.

Your guide will piece together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, with parking available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour!

Tickets – $10/person and must be purchased online. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Look Homeward, Asheville: A Downtown Walking Tour Through Thomas Wolfe's Eyes
2025-10-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-25 10:00 - 11:30 | NC
Step into the world of Thomas Wolfe with this guided walking tour through downtown Asheville- Wolfe’s hometown and the vivid backdrop for his (in)famous novel Look Homeward, Angel.

The tour begins at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial at the front of the Historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse where Wolfe spent his childhood. From there, participants will stroll through downtown exploring sites connected to Wolfe’s life.

Throughout the walk, our guide will share excerpts from Wolfe’s writings, anecdotes about his life, and insights into the Asheville of the early 20th century. Roughly 90 minutes, the tour will finish at the First Presbyterian Church, where our guide will be happy to chat and answer questions with anyone who wants to learn more!

Tickets for this special tour are $10/person and must be purchased online. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Please arrive 10 minutes early to check in with your tickets (printed or e-tickets are fine). If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the Memorial at 828-253-8304. Thank you for your support!

From Death to Mourning: Spiritual Journeys of the Wolfe Family
2025-10-25 17:00 - 19:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for this intimate, open-house style tour of the Old Kentucky Home as we explore how the Wolfe Family grappled with death, spiritualism, and mysteries of the beyond. Discover stories of early 20th century funerary practices, family visions, and the ways death shaped one of America’s greatest writers.

Come and see the skeletons in our closets.

Tickets – $10 per person. You can purchase tickets upon arrival at the Memorial, or ahead of time by CLICKING HERE

Home for the Holidays: A Victorian Holiday Open House of the Old Kentucky Home
2025-12-13 17:00 - 19:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for this special after-hours open house of the Old Kentucky Home as we explore Victorian Holiday traditions of the time period. Come see the home all dressed up in its Christmas finest! Guests will walk through the boardinghouse at their leisure to view this pop-up Holiday Traditions exhibit.

Tickets are $10/person and can be purchased on site or ahead of time here.

Enjoy holiday crafts, our exhibit hall, Christmas cookies, and warm apple cider in the Memorial’s Visitor Center. Last admittance into the house is 6:45pm.

"Fame and the Poet" - Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussion
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us in person at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial or via Zoom!

If you have ever been interested in reading Thomas Wolfe, our annual Short Story Discussions are a fantastic opportunity to get acquainted with his work. Join us as we read a curated selection of Wolfe’s short stories, each paired with an engaging and informative discussion led by local experts. No prior experience with Wolfe’s writing needed – just bring your curiosity!

Thursday, January 8th – “Fame and the Poet” with discussion leaders Dan and Ana Clare.

The Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussions are a partnership between the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. This year’s stories have been chosen to reflect the three core values of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy: the power of the written and spoken word, environmental integrity, and social justice.

To register for zoom or to access pdfs of the 2026 story selections, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/wilma-dykeman-legacy…

Our text is The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe, edited by Francis E. Skipp with a Foreword by James Dickey (New York: Scribner’s, 1987). If you’d like the full text, this book can be found at local libraries and bookstores, and at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial gift shop.

"His Father's Earth" - Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussion
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us in person at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial or via Zoom!

If you have ever been interested in reading Thomas Wolfe, our annual Short Story Discussions are a fantastic opportunity to get acquainted with his work. Join us as we read a curated selection of Wolfe’s short stories, each paired with an engaging and informative discussion led by local experts. No prior experience with Wolfe’s writing needed – just bring your curiosity!

Thursday, February 12th – “His Father’s Earth” with discussion leader Brandon Johnson

The Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussions are a partnership between the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. This year’s stories have been chosen to reflect the three core values of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy: the power of the written and spoken word, environmental integrity, and social justice.

To register for zoom or to access pdfs of the 2026 story selections, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/wilma-dykeman-legacy…

Our text is The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe, edited by Francis E. Skipp with a Foreword by James Dickey (New York: Scribner’s, 1987). If you’d like the full text, this book can be found at local libraries and bookstores, and at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial gift shop.

When are We US? An "America250" Symposium
2026-02-27 09:30 - 17:00 | NC
Buncombe County Special Collections & North Carolina Historic Sites present a day filled with programs that delve into the fundamental ideals of democracy and explore the diversity of voices that have shaped our nation.

How can change be a powerful force for progress?How can we work together to create a more just and equitable society?When are we US?

***Program Schedule***

9:30 am – “A New Birth of Freedom in the Mountain South”Historian Dr. Steven Nash, author of Reconstruction’s Ragged Edge, will present a lecture exploring the aftermath of slavery in Western North Carolina with Q&A to follow.

10:30 am – “A Woman of Her Own Making”Literature scholar Rebecca Godwin will discuss Julia Wolfe, not simply the mother of Thomas Wolfe, but a successful business woman and example of independent women in the early 20th century with Q&A to follow.

1:00 pm – Screening – “Urban Renewal Impact”Part II of the “Black in Asheville” film series. Documentary film screening followed by a discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Todd Gragg and community historian Priscilla Robinson.

3:30 pm – “Open Envelope”Live readings of historical documents that explore the symposium theme, “When are We, US?” with opportunity for Q&A with local public historians.

Light refreshments will be served.

***About Buncombe County Special Collections***The Buncombe County Special Collections Library (formerly the North Carolina Room) is located on the lower level of Pack Memorial Library in Downtown Asheville. Buncombe County Special Collections preserves and provides access to archives and reference materials about the social, cultural, and natural history of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Western North Carolina.Go to specialcollections.buncombenc.gov to learn more and plan a visit!

Sips & Scripts: An Afternoon Tea and Readers Theater for Julia Wolfe's 166th Birthday
2026-02-28 13:30 - 14:30 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
In honor of Julia Wolfe’s 166th Birthday, join us inside the historic boardinghouse dining room as we enjoy light refreshments and tea from the Asheville Tea Company. Guests will also enjoy a special Readers Theater titled “Wolfe’s Women,” which will highlight the impact that Julia and other women had on Thomas Wolfe.

Finish the afternoon with a special walk through the first floor of the boardinghouse to view select pieces of Julia Wolfe’s clothing and accessories currently on display.

Plan for about an hour and a half with us. Tickets are $20 per person. This event has a limited seating. Purchase your tickets HERE

"The Child by Tiger" - Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussion
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us in person at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial or via Zoom!

If you have ever been interested in reading Thomas Wolfe, our annual Short Story Discussions are a fantastic opportunity to get acquainted with his work. Join us as we read a curated selection of Wolfe’s short stories, each paired with an engaging and informative discussion led by local experts. No prior experience with Wolfe’s writing needed – just bring your curiosity!

Thursday, March 12th – “The Child by Tiger” with discussion leader Tom Hearron.

The Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussions are a partnership between the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. This year’s stories have been chosen to reflect the three core values of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy: the power of the written and spoken word, environmental integrity, and social justice.

To register for zoom or to access pdfs of the 2026 story selections, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/…/wilma-dykeman-legacy…

Our text is The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe, edited by Francis E. Skipp with a Foreword by James Dickey (New York: Scribner’s, 1987). If you’d like the full text, this book can be found at local libraries and bookstores, and at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial gift shop.

Look Homeward, Angel: A Downtown Walking Tour Through Thomas Wolfe's Eyes
2026-04-11 10:00 - 11:30 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Step into Spring and the world of Thomas Wolfe with this guided walking tour through downtown Asheville- Wolfe’s hometown and the vivid backdrop for his (in)famous novel Look Homeward, Angel.

The special tour begins at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial on the front porch of the Historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse where Wolfe spent his childhood. From there, participants will stroll through downtown exploring sites connected to Wolfe’s life.

Throughout the walk, our guide will share excerpts from Wolfe’s writings, anecdotes about his life, and insights into early 20th century Asheville. Roughly 90 minutes, the tour will finish at the First Presbyterian Church, where our guide will be happy to chat and answer questions with anyone who wants to learn more!

THIS EVENT HAS A CAPACITY LIMIT, and tickets must be purchased ahead of time here: https://www.zeffy.com/…/look-homeward-asheville-a…

Tickets are $10 per person. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to check-in.

We hope you’ll join us

Look Homeward, Asheville: A Downtown Walking Tour Through Thomas Wolfe's Eyes
2026-04-25 10:00 - 11:30 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States

Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for a tour of Riverside Cemetery as we piece together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, with parking available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour!

THIS EVENT HAS A CAPACITY LIMIT. Tickets – $10/person and must be purchased online: https://www.zeffy.com/…/thomas-wolfes-buried-lives-a…

POSTPONED- Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS TOUR WILL BE POSTPONED AND RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH AT 10AM.

Join us for a tour of Riverside Cemetery as we piece together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, with parking available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour!

THIS EVENT HAS A CAPACITY LIMIT. Tickets – $10/person and must be purchased online: https://www.zeffy.com/…/thomas-wolfes-buried-lives-a…

Membership Appreciation Day!
2026-06-07 13:00 - 16:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us as we open with special afternoon hours on Sunday, June 7th, where members can bring up to two complimentary guests for a special furniture-themed tour of the historic boardinghouse, a guided downtown walking tour, a short documentary highlighting the home and furniture’s restoration following the 1998 arson fire, and a special behind-the-scenes look at select pieces of the memorial’s extensive artifact collection! We are so excited to celebrate some of our biggest supporters!

MEMBERS – Reserve your free tickets (and up to two complimentary tickets) by clicking HERE.

If you’d like to become a member, click HERE

If you’re unsure of your membership status, please call the Memorial at 828-253-8304 or email Kayla at kayla.seay@dncr.nc.gov

RESCHEDULED - Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2026-06-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
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 many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, with parking available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour!

THIS EVENT HAS A CAPACITY LIMIT. Tickets – $10/person and must be purchased online: https://www.zeffy.com/…/thomas-wolfes-buried-lives-a…

1918 Summer Social
2026-06-27 09:00 - 17:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
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.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased day of at the Memorial, or ahead of time by clicking HERE.

Film Screening: "Look Homeward, Angel" from CBS Playhouse 90
2026-08-21 18:00 - 20:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for a special screening of “Look Homeward, Angel” from CBS Playhouse 90, a rare chance to experience Thomas Wolfe’s work on screen.

Based on Ketti Frings’ Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation of the classic novel, this production stars Timothy Bottoms, Geraldine Page, and E.G. Marshall as they bring the Gant family’s story to life. Come join us, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the nostalgia of this 1972 television movie.

This is a FREE EVENT. Follow this link to reserve your seats! https://www.zeffy.com/…/film-screening-look-homeward…Donations are happily accepted and go toward the Memorial’s programming and other special events like this

Look Homeward, Asheville: A Downtown Walking Tour Through Thomas Wolfe's Eyes
2026-09-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-09-26 10:00 - 11:30 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Step into the world of Thomas Wolfe with this guided walking tour through downtown Asheville- Wolfe’s hometown and the vivid backdrop for his (in)famous novel Look Homeward, Angel.

The tour begins at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial at the front of the Historic Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse where Wolfe spent his childhood. From there, participants will stroll through downtown exploring sites connected to Wolfe’s life.

Throughout the walk, our guide will share excerpts from Wolfe’s writings, anecdotes about his life, and insights into early 20th century Asheville.

Roughly 90 minutes, the tour will finish at the First Presbyterian Church, where our guide will be happy to chat and answer questions with anyone who wants to learn more!

Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/look-homeward-asheville-a-downtown-walking-tour-through-thomas-wolfes-eyes-3

Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Riverside Cemetery Tour
2026-09-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us as we welcome Fall and explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!

Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/thomas-wolfes-buried-lives-a-riverside-cemetery-tour-2

Thomas Wolfe's Buried Lives: A Special Evening Tour of Riverside Cemetery
2026-10-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
In celebration of Thomas Wolfe’s 126th birthday, join us for a SPECIAL EVENING TOUR of Riverside Cemetery where guests will also encounter a handful of characters from beyond the grave.

Your guide will piece together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.

The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, with parking available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour!

Tickets – $10/person and must be purchased online: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/thomas-wolfes-buried-lives-a-special-evening-tour-of-riverside-cemetery-2

Film Screening - You Can't Go Home Again from CBS (1979)
2026-10-16 17:00 - 19:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for a special screening of “You Can’t Go Home Again” from CBS, a rare chance to experience Thomas Wolfe’s work on screen.

This adaptation of the classic novel stars Chris Sarandon and Lee Grant and follows the story of a young writer trying to make it in New York, his relationships, and the editor who sees his potential for literary genius. Come join us, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the nostalgia of this 1979 television movie.

This is a FREE EVENT. Please reserve your seat here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/film-screening-you-cant-go-home-again-from-cbs–1979

Donations are happily accepted and go toward the Memorial’s programming and other special events like this.

From Death to Mourning: Spiritual Journeys of the Wolfe Family
2026-10-24 17:00 - 19:00 | The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join us for this intimate, open-house style tour of the Old Kentucky Home as we explore how the Wolfe Family grappled with death, spiritualism, and mysteries of the beyond. Discover stories of early 20th century funerary practices, family visions, and the ways death shaped one of America’s greatest writers.

Come and see the skeletons in our closets.

$10 per person – purchase tickets HERE.

Home for the Holidays: A Victorian Holiday Open House of the Old Kentucky Home
2026-12-12 17:00 - 19:00 | NC
Step into History This Holiday Season

Join us for the “Home for the Holidays: A Victorian Holiday Open House of the Old Kentucky Home.” Experience the warmth and charm of Holiday traditions in Thomas Wolfe’s world. Come see the home all dressed up in its Christmas finest! Guests will walk through the boardinghouse at their leisure to view this pop-up Holiday Traditions exhibit.

Enjoy holiday crafts, our exhibit hall, Christmas cookies, and warm apple cider in the Memorial’s Visitor Center. Last admittance into the house is 6:45pm.

$10 per person – purchase tickets HERE.
