Thomas Wolfe Memorial
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
4.5
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Thomas Wolfe's childhood home, immortalized in his 1929 novel, "Look Homeward Angel," is preserved intact as a lasting monument to one of the 20th century's most prominent writers. The house, originally operated as a boardinghouse by his mother, retains most of its original furnishings and is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Tours of the 29 room house are offered hourly. The adjacent visitor center and museum highlight Wolfe's life and major literary accomplishments.
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Neighbourhood: Downtown Asheville
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See what travellers are saying
- Cynthia7272Florida473 contributionsBeautiful historical tour of the home of author Thomas Wolfe.This is truly a treasure in downtown Asheville. It's a historical site that encompasses the life of author Thomas Wolfe and his family. The tour operator was extremely knowledgeable and you could tell she has read many of his books. Even if you've never read any of his book or have never heard of him, you must go because you learn so much of how his life was and about that time period. It's an inexpensive way to spend a lovely afternoon. While we were there, the locals were having an outdoor market and that was great! Call to see when they will have that and you'll be able to do two things while you're there! The facility where you purchase the tickets is right next door and it has a free small museum if you don't want to purchase the tickets to tour the home. But, touring the home is well worth it!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 6 January 2024
- oumom53146 contributionsBargain of a tour!This memorial is the best bargain in town for an informative tour. Our guide Stacy was well-read and shared lots of details about the home and family. Besides the guided tour of the house, there is a short film and a small museum type area. At the time of our visit, tickets were $5, but the Hop On Hop Off ticket gets you in half-price. We were lucky to arrive for the first tour on a rainy morning and were the only people on the tour. I have never read any Thomas Wolfe (that I can remember) but now will at least try to read Look Homeward Angel!Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 April 2024
- JohnAnnColumbia_MDColumbia, Maryland1,864 contributionsExcellent Tour and ExhibitsWe took the tour of the Thomas Wolfe home at about 10:30 am on a Wednesday. There is limited free parking at the house. The tour guide was excellent and the inexpensive tour was quite informative. The original furniture was spectacular for a 1900s boarding house. The exhibit which included many original family possessions was also very informative. The biographical film was truly excellent. One obtained an exceptionally good description of Thomas Wolfe's life and literary career. We highly recommend this marvelous experience to all. We spent about 2 hours for the tour and exhibits.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 April 2024
- TonyFlanders, New Jersey68 contributionsThomas Wolfe House is Amazing!A hidden gem in a city that is mostly unimpressive. Thomas Wolfe’s life was tragic, fascinating, and inspiring. This memorial of sorts not only captures his life but Asheville in all its glory over several decades. In its own way, it was every bit as extraordinary as the Biltmore. It is more than worth a visit - allow time to take it all in and then enjoy some of the local shops in the downtown area. It heightens the Biltmore experience so best to visit prior to seeing the big house!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 August 2024
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4.5
532 reviews
Excellent
356
Very good
137
Average
35
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Cynthia7272
Florida473 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This is truly a treasure in downtown Asheville. It's a historical site that encompasses the life of author Thomas Wolfe and his family. The tour operator was extremely knowledgeable and you could tell she has read many of his books. Even if you've never read any of his book or have never heard of him, you must go because you learn so much of how his life was and about that time period.
It's an inexpensive way to spend a lovely afternoon. While we were there, the locals were having an outdoor market and that was great! Call to see when they will have that and you'll be able to do two things while you're there!
The facility where you purchase the tickets is right next door and it has a free small museum if you don't want to purchase the tickets to tour the home. But, touring the home is well worth it!
It's an inexpensive way to spend a lovely afternoon. While we were there, the locals were having an outdoor market and that was great! Call to see when they will have that and you'll be able to do two things while you're there!
The facility where you purchase the tickets is right next door and it has a free small museum if you don't want to purchase the tickets to tour the home. But, touring the home is well worth it!
Written 6 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarsonsMommy
Durham, NC2,992 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
If you’ve ever read one of his books, or have any interest in American literature, this tour is a must! Only $5 for an informative, docent led tour through the home he lived in since age 6 - his mothers boarding room house. With no room to call his own, his father and siblings living in another home down the street, a great deal of time on his own to explore town, he forged the memories and experiences that led to Look Homeward Angel. The bedroom where Ben died is set up exactly as it was in the book, as Thomas returned home.
Written 11 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connector316680
United States11 contributions
May 2022
We were planning on going another day, but things changed and we showed up at 3:35 PM. (it closes at 5 {) The next and last tor of the house was at 4:30PM. This was enough time for us to look at the exhibits and watch the movie at 4PM. (We do take more time than most.) We , but the tour the only two on the guided tour. I admit that I haven't read Wolfe, but the tour was interesting and gave one a real sense of life during the early 20th century, along with mention of how the house influenced Wolfe's writings. The house was a good contrast to the Biltmore, and showed how another segment of the population lived. Although we were the only two on the tour and were the only thing standing between our guide and his going home, the tour wasn't rushed and all of our questions were answered in detail. There are a couple of free parking spaces available to visitors in a lot near the building. The tour was $5 a head.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oumom53
146 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
This memorial is the best bargain in town for an informative tour. Our guide Stacy was well-read and shared lots of details about the home and family. Besides the guided tour of the house, there is a short film and a small museum type area. At the time of our visit, tickets were $5, but the Hop On Hop Off ticket gets you in half-price. We were lucky to arrive for the first tour on a rainy morning and were the only people on the tour. I have never read any Thomas Wolfe (that I can remember) but now will at least try to read Look Homeward Angel!
Written 10 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane M
Asheville, NC103 contributions
Jan 2023
We had an excellent guide for our tour of the Olde Kentucky Home, the boarding house owned my the mother of Thomas Wolfe. Not only did she provide a great insight into the city of Asheville during that time but her knowledge about Thomas Wolfe and his family have inspired me to begin reading Look Homeward Angel and other books by this author.
The house and visitor center are definitely a "must see" if visiting Asheville
The house and visitor center are definitely a "must see" if visiting Asheville
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
george
West Palm Beach, FL7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Although I was vaguely familiar Thomas Wolfe and his writings, this tour gave some great insights into his interesting life and times. Although it is called The Thomas Wolfe Memorial it is more of a house museum with his “Old Kentucky Home” preserved and curated to accurately show the rooming house his mother ran and where he grew up. It provides deep insights on his bestselling autobiographical novels Look Homeward Angel and You Can’t Go Home Again.
Written 7 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stillhouse123
Long Beach Island, NJ6 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
The museum provided an overview of Asheville at the time of Wolfe’s birth, his parents, different periods of Wolfe’s life and people with whom he had critical personal and professional relationships. Each section contained relevant quotes from his books, as well as pictures and artifacts. Very well done! The tour of the boarding house which his mother ran and in which he lived was very interesting,
Written 6 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bklyndelight
Brooklyn, NY113 contributions
Dec 2021
The film when you enter is very informative. The museum basically repeats the film. The real treat is the mothers boarding house where Wolfe grew up. You can understand so much of Wolfe from that tour. It is definitely worth the extra 5 dollars for a docent lead tour.
Written 19 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cr02847b4
District of Columbia28 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
It was very informative and detailed museum. Thomas Wolfe is ranked amongst Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald when it comes to Too American writers. They have a video you can watch before the tour, there is also a really well put together exhibit. For $5 a donation, you can take you a tour of his childhood home, which was a boarding house ran by his mother, and gives you all kinds of information about his childhood. This museum exceeded my expectations!
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MonroeLouisiana
Monroe145 contributions
Sept 2020
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is actually a house where he lived as a boy and which his mother ran as a boarding house. There was nothing online to indicate that the house wasn't open for tours during Covid. However, upon arrival we found that both the next door visitor center and house were closed. But I have to say that the trip was still worthwhile because signs were posted about the free cell phone audio tour. The tour described locations both outside and inside of the house and gave basic information about Wolfe's early life and connection to Asheville in his writing. Although we would have loved to have seen the inside, we enjoyed listening to the tour and roaming on the grounds and porch of the house. There were even a few downstairs windows that we could peer into and take photos.
Written 18 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited on a Saturday and there was free parking next to the museum. Check there first before paying for a meter. If you tour the house you will need at least 2 hours. Also, if interested go find his gravesite. Take a picture of the cemetery map as the roads there are confusing. It's a beautiful place.
Written 30 January 2020
I'd like to recommend a movie, Genius, which stars Colin Firth and Jude Law. It tells the true story of Perkins, the editor, and Wolf, the author, and how they find a way to get Wolf's books published. This movie is in theaters now.
Written 9 July 2016
I just saw it tonight for the second time. I don't know why critics disliked it so much. I'm a devotee of Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Perkins and think the film is marvelous in the best sense of that word.
Written 10 July 2016
How long does the guided tour take ? or how long should we plan to experience the house/ ground etc?
thanks!
Written 27 May 2015
Plan an hour. Took 45 min. for us but we were the only people there.
Written 27 May 2015
Going tomorrow, May 25. Can we hike the loop trail past 5 pm?
Written 24 May 2015
Yes, but make sure you get to the places that close early.
Written 25 May 2015
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