Thomas Wolfe House facts for kids
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Thomas Wolfe House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 52 North Market Street, Asheville, North Carolina |
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| Built | 1883 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Part of | Downtown Asheville Historic District (ID79001676) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000572 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
| Designated CP | April 26, 1979 |
The Thomas Wolfe House, also called the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, is a special historic place in Asheville, North Carolina. It is a historic house and a museum that you can visit. This house is found at 52 North Market Street in the center of Asheville.
A famous American writer named Thomas Wolfe (who lived from 1900 to 1938) grew up in this house. Because of its strong connection to Thomas Wolfe, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1971. It is also part of the Downtown Asheville Historic District.
Contents
The House's Story
Early Days of the House
This two-story house was built in 1883. Its design was influenced by the Queen Anne style, which was popular at the time. In 1906, Thomas Wolfe's mother, Julia E. Wolfe, bought the house. It was already a boarding house back then, and its name was "Old Kentucky Home."
Soon after buying it, Julia Wolfe moved into the boarding house to run her business. Her son, Thomas, moved in with her. The rest of the Wolfe family stayed at their other home on Woodfin Street. Thomas Wolfe lived at the "Old Kentucky Home" until 1916, when he left to attend the University of North Carolina. In 1917, Julia Wolfe made the house even bigger by adding five more rooms.
A Book's Setting
Thomas Wolfe later used this house as the main setting for his very first novel, Look Homeward, Angel. This book was published in 1929. In his story, he changed the name of his mother's boarding house to "Dixieland." He wrote about his own experiences living there with his family, friends, and the people who stayed as boarders. The book was a type of autobiographical fiction, meaning it was a story based on his own life.
Becoming a Memorial
Thomas Wolfe passed away at a young age from tuberculosis. After his mother's death, the house became a special place to remember him. It has been open for visitors since the 1950s. The state of North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has owned the house since 1976.
In 1998, a fire caused damage to the house. About 200 of the house's 800 original items were destroyed, and the dining room was also damaged. The fire was started by someone during the Bele Chere street festival, but the person responsible was never found. After a lot of work and a $2.4 million restoration, the house was reopened in 2003. Today, it continues to welcome visitors who want to learn about Thomas Wolfe and his life.
More to Explore
- List of National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Buncombe County, North Carolina
- List of residences of American writers
