North Carolina Historic Sites

The Smith-McDowell House

Located in Buncombe County, North Carolina is Asheville’s oldest surviving brick house, the Smith-McDowell House and Museum.

History
A wealthy businessman by the name of James McConnell Smith built the mansion in 1840. He was the first child-settler born west of the North Carolina mountains. After his death, the home changed hands several times. During this transition, one of the owners hired the renowned Olmstead Brothers to landscape the property. They were becoming legends of their time with the design of Manhattan’s Central Park and the Biltmore House gardens.

In 1951, it was transformed into a boy’s dormitory and then sold to the Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College in 1974. Eventually, the Western North Carolina Historical Association stepped in to aid in the search for funding to restore the house and turn it into a museum.

The House
Comprised of 6,700 square feet, this brick beauty was unique in Asheville at the time. (Most homes in the area were made of logs.) The English-style mansion encompassed three levels, five bays, a double-tier porch and three pairs of indoor chimneys. While the summer kitchen, sunroom, slate roof and side entrance have been added since 1840, guests might still view the original doorframes, window frames and second-floor mantles.

Other interesting sights within the house include a slight journey through time including an 1840s kitchen, 1850s bedroom, 1880s parlor and 1890s dining room. Period furnishings are appropriate for each of the rooms. In addition, the museum offers a variety of educational programs and exhibits throughout the year. Of course the gardens should not to be missed.

Want to know more? Check out the ultimate source for Cultural Resources in North Carolina, NCDCR.

added: December 18, 2008

updated: December 7, 2010