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Description
Join us at the Asheville Museum of History (AMoH) on Tuesday, July 28th, from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the historic Smith-McDowell House, home to AMoH, for a special History Hour program: The Evolution of Asheville's Built Environment, with Heath Towson. Light refreshments will be available.
About the History Hour Program:
After the Civil War ended, Asheville was just another small isolated mountain town. It was known mostly for being a stop by cowboys and drovers, taking their livestock to market in Tennessee or Greenville. That would all change when the railroad finally made its way up the mountain from Old Fort in 1880, bringing with it a group of land developers who could see the potential in this hardscrabble but scenically beautiful town. With the construction of George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate, Asheville would become a magnet for high society, architects, craftsmen and creatives. Join Asheville historian Heath Towson, as he explores the evolution of Asheville's natural topography and architecture in relation to development, technological innovation, climate change and major socioeconomic events that changed the town from the age of the Vanderbilts, to the effects of flooding due to Hurricane Helene.
About the Speaker:
Heath Towson is an Asheville native, born in "The Land of the Sky." He runs his own tour company, Mountaineer Motor Tours, which provides tours of Asheville in a 1923 Ford Model T, step on guide services for charter bus groups and historical speaking presentations. Towson also serves as a docent and tour guide at the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum in Historic Grovewood Village. This summer, he hosted The Motor Mile Car Show on Coxe Avenue, highlighting Asheville's early automotive history on the city's historic "Motor Mile."
Tickets:
$10 General Admission / FREE for AMoH members. We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able, please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who could not attend otherwise. Tickets are limited for in-person lectures, so don't miss your opportunity to secure a spot!
* In-Person Tickets are limited *
Become a Member:
If you wish to support the Asheville Museum of History and become a member of the museum, use the link below:
Become a Member of the Asheville Museum of History
For questions about this event:
Email education@ashevillehistory.org or call the Asheville Museum of History (AMoH) at 828-253-9231.
Date & Time
Tue, Jul 28, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Venue Details
Asheville Museum of History
283 Victoria RoadAsheville, North Carolina 28801
