Asheville I: a Brief History

A couple of weeks ago, I drove the Half Doz deep into the heart of Appalachia to play for a couple of days in Asheville, NC. For as much fun as we had, I think it completely appropriate to credit the city of Asheville as the subject of my first series on this blog. I’ll begin with a brief history, then, subsequently, I’ll write on Asheville’s downtown, food, drink, and my favorite experience during our time.

The Story of Asheville

It all began when a colonel moved into the area (Cherokee Nation) with his family in the late 1700s. Originally, it was called “Morristown,” but later the common westward crossroad was renamed Asheville in honor of the North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe. The Civil War had very little effect on the city, but the railroad made Asheville in the late 1800s. The way in which the city handled the Great Depression is largely the reason for its innate ability to captivate visitors and residents alike. Instead of defaulting, Asheville bore the weight of debt (more than any other city in the nation) and resolved to pay over a period of 50 years, giving the city moral and physical character. Asheville is a proud city of artistic and cultural taste steeped in back-breaking stick-to-itiveness and long-lasting, magnificent architecture.

The Build of Asheville

Most notably, the largest private residence in America is the Biltmore Estate; it is, in effect, America’s largest castle. One of the Vanderbilts planned and built the Biltmore in about 6 years. Renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscaper Frederick Law Olmstead designed it to model a European-style chateaux. Here’s the stats: 175 K sq. ft., 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and quite the basement (swimming pool, gym, and bowling alley). The Biltmore, however, is not all Asheville has to offer in the way of architecture. As mentioned above, the city’s resolve during the Depression led to a fine preservation of a vast collection of Art Deco architecture, including city hall.

Walking around the city, it doesn’t take long to realize what a gem Asheville is. Now, with an idea of its history and architecture, I’ll explain what I mean in my next post concerning the feel of downtown Asheville and why you should consider putting it at the top of your list of weekend getaways or summer vacation home base.