Welcome to Hidden History: Asheville!

the blogger & her son, August Solomon

Hello kind readers!

I am Olive, a 25-year-old recent graduate, new mom, and amateur historian-in-the-making. I am inspired to create a blog logging my adventures into the hidden history of a small but mighty North Carolina town: Asheville.

Why study Asheville? Asheville has a booming tourism industry and is expanding and developing with each year. While such growth puts us on "Top Ten" lists in national publications and many flock here to enjoy a signature craft beer, acclaimed restaurant, or hiking trail, an individual can spend an entire weekend here without learning about the history of this fascinating town. I am particularly interested in the experiences of minority communities in our mountain town, whose experiences specifically are often rendered invisible and forgotten. While Asheville is now heralded as a bedrock for liberalism and hippies abound, its history is deeply rooted in governmental de jure segregation of black and white communities and its present is defined by de facto gentrification.

Why study history? As we make room for the new, flashy condos and restaurants downtown, some element of the local culture will inherently be lost. I seek to preserve the stories and spaces in memory as they are rapidly lost and changed.

I believe that the preservation of memory is an important element of creating and building up our community. While it cannot possibly replace what has been lost, it is an acknowledgment of what once was and should be a critical element of community building.

If these topics interest you, please consider following my blogging adventures. Also, there will be cute baby pictures posted often, if that’s more your speed. Thank you for reading!

one of my favorite hidden spots in town: Burton Street Community Peace Gardens

1 Rothstein, Richard. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. W W Norton & Co, 2017. (Xii)