Plan Your Visit

inside the boarders room of the Old Kentucky Home

Thomas Wolfe left an indelible mark on American letters. His mother's boardinghouse in Asheville, North Carolina, now the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, has become one of literature's most famous landmarks. Named "Old Kentucky Home" by a previous owner, Wolfe immortalized the rambling Victorian structure as "Dixieland" in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. A classic of American literature, Look Homeward, Angel has never gone out of print since its 1929 publication, keeping interest in Wolfe alive and attracting visitors to the setting for this great novel.

Hours and Location

Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and most major holidays

52 N. Market St.
Asheville, N.C. 28801

Admission

Adults - $5
Children - $2.
Pre-registered adult groups are $2.50 per person. School groups are $2 per person.

Guided Tours

Guided tours of the historic "Old Kentucky Home" are offered daily at the bottom of each hour. We ask that groups make reservations in advance.

Group Reservations

Facilities

Historic Structures: The early 20th-century boardinghouse called "Old Kentucky Home," was the childhood home of novelist Thomas Wolfe. The 29-room house was reopened in 2004 after an extensive restoration following a fire that damaged much of the structure in July 1998. The Wolfe children's playhouse is also on the property.
Visitor Center: An exhibit hall and audiovisual program depicting Wolfe’s life and literature are located in the visitor center. The center also contains a display of art inspired by the writings of Thomas Wolfe.
Trails, Monuments, Outdoor Exhibits: Heirloom gardens, similar to the vegetable and flower gardens of Julia Wolfe, are planted around the boardinghouse.
Handicapped Accessibility: The first floor of "The Old Kentucky Home" is wheelchair accessible. The visitor center is fully accessible.
Picnic Facilities: None
Gift Shop: A gift shop is located in the visitor center with books and souvenir items related to Thomas Wolfe.

Programs, Group Activities

Annual programs include "A Day In May, 1916", which focuses on what it was like to live and work in Mrs. Wolfe's boardinghouse and "A Walk Through Dixieland", a literary program presented in October. Hands-on activities are available for scheduled elementary school groups.