Asheville Urban Trail

The S&W Market

Following the Urban Trail

A Walking Tour of Asheville's History

In a casual two-hour amble about town, a person interested in exploring the city's quirky and magical past, along with getting to know many of its larger-than-life historical characters, can follow a string of 30 sculptural trail stations directly into Asheville lore.

On the Urban Trail, every station calls to mind a historical moment and, for the most part, the achievements of remarkable individuals connected to our small city. Figuratively speaking, you will stumble headlong into George Vanderbilt, E.W. Grove, Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Douglas Ellington, and a short story writer calling himself O. Henry ~ just to name a few.

Get Started

A good place to start is in front of Pack Place on Asheville's Pack Square where you can step up to Plaque #1, called "Walk Into History." But any starting point is fine. And you're not breaking any mountain laws if you veer off into a tavern, restaurant, store or conversation ~ or pause to hear the riffs of a street busker at full busk. The trail is urban, and so are the many bracing delights of the city. Take your time and follow the nose of your curiosity.

You can click through to descriptions of each of the trail's thirty stations on this site (beginning with Station #1, here), and/or view an interactive map of all locations. A printable map of the Urban Trail is also available. Check out the Urban Trail video or listen to an audio tour of each station. Teachers and students should download the scavenger hunt and teacher's guide or visit the teacher resources page to learn more about the history of Asheville.

NOTE: As we review history, embrace the present and look into the future, some stories and landmarks along the Urban Trail continue to evolve. We are working diligently to reflect these changes and continue to celebrate Asheville's deep history.