Thomas Wolfe Memorial
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
4.5
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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Neighborhood: Downtown Asheville
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- Jane MAsheville, North Carolina103 contributionsExcellent museum and knowledgeable tour guideWe 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 AshevilleVisited January 2023Written January 9, 2023
- ResaMeraGothenburg, Sweden39 contributionsInteresting and informative - I learned so muchWhat a great experience! I learned so much, about Wolf and his life and about his family especially his mother. Start with the film and the museum. Then you are ready for the tour of his childhood home/his mother’s boarding house. Our guide Stephen was really good. The house and all its room would be an attraction in itself even without the connection to T Wolf. Highly recommend!Visited March 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten March 23, 2023
- georgeWest Palm Beach, Florida3 contributionsAn enjoyable and educational two hours for house tour, video and museumAlthough 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.Visited July 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 7, 2023
- kappelzwergFellbach, Germany313 contributionsWorth a visit, excellent tour guideWe visited the Thomas Wolfe Memorial on a rainy day and received an exclusive tour trough the former guest house of Thomes Wolfe's mother. Our guide was very friendly and the given explanations were really excellent. Worth a visit also on non-rainy days.Visited August 2023Traveled with familyWritten August 19, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
529 reviews
Excellent
352
Very good
138
Average
35
Poor
4
Terrible
0
CarsonsMommy
Durham, NC2,638 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 May 11, 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 States12 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 {
Written May 18, 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.
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 January 9, 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, FL3 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 July 7, 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 October 6, 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 December 19, 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 Columbia30 contributions
Sep 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 October 3, 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
Monroe148 contributions
Sep 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 September 18, 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.
usnamom2001
Bellport, NY236 contributions
May 2021
Great historical home! Nicely preserved and full of history. The pre-tour exhibit was very well done and interesting. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. History can be very enjoyable....this place was a great stop in Asheville.
Written August 1, 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.
ResaMera
Gothenburg, Sweden39 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
What a great experience! I learned so much, about Wolf and his life and about his family especially his mother.
Start with the film and the museum. Then you are ready for the tour of his childhood home/his mother’s boarding house.
Our guide Stephen was really good. The house and all its room would be an attraction in itself even without the connection to T Wolf.
Highly recommend!
Start with the film and the museum. Then you are ready for the tour of his childhood home/his mother’s boarding house.
Our guide Stephen was really good. The house and all its room would be an attraction in itself even without the connection to T Wolf.
Highly recommend!
Written March 23, 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.
Wemmy
New Jersey21 contributions
Is there parking at the site or nearby?
John F
Rogers, AR109 contributions
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.
jmemrich
Sarasota, FL91 contributions
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.
CharlesHerschel
Asheville, North Carolina, United States21 contributions
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.
2WonderWander
London, UK54 contributions
How long does the guided tour take ? or how long should we plan to experience the house/ ground etc?
thanks!
Donna A
Naperville, IL52 contributions
Plan an hour. Took 45 min. for us but we were the only people there.
catsoCanada
Canada3 contributions
Going tomorrow, May 25. Can we hike the loop trail past 5 pm?
Jacklyn W
The Villages, FL3,507 contributions
Yes, but make sure you get to the places that close early.
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Thomas Wolfe Memorial Information
Excellent Reviews | 352 |
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