Essential Asheville Walking Tour: Historic Streets to Creative Beats

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville boasts the second-largest collection of Art Deco architecture in America.

On this walking tour, you’ll discover the city’s remarkable history, from its Cherokee origins to its Roaring Twenties boom. You’ll also hear about the unexpected preservation of its architectural treasures due to the Great Depression. (Don’t worry, it will make sense later.)

This tour starts at the Visitor’s Center and takes you through downtown Asheville’s most iconic landmarks. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about the visionaries who shaped its distinctive character.

You’ll learn how wealthy entrepreneurs like E.W. Grove and George Willis Pack transformed the city’s skyline and see how the arts have flourished here, from traditional Appalachian folk music to contemporary crafts. You’ll discover the city’s literary connections to Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry while passing bustling music venues and artisan markets. The tour ends at Mellow Mushroom, a colorful pizzeria perfect for refreshments after your journey.

On this two-hour walking tour, you’ll also have a chance to:

• Visit the impressive Basilica of Saint Lawrence, featuring North America’s largest free-standing elliptical dome
• Explore the Grove Arcade, America’s first indoor shopping mall, completed in 1929
• See the striking Art Deco facades of the Public Service Building and S&W Market
• Admire the Jackson Building, Asheville’s first skyscraper, adorned with watchful gargoyles
• Browse local art at repurposed historic buildings like Woolworth Walk and Kress Emporium
• Learn about Asheville’s literary connections, including the Thomas Wolfe Memorial
• Wander through Pack Square Park, the city’s central gathering place for festivals and events

This walk through Asheville reveals how the city’s financial hardships ended up preserving its architectural heritage, to create the creative and vibrant mountain town you see today.