Performing Arts Archives - Relax Asheville

Asheville Performing Arts Academy

Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

The History of Asheville

Before European settlement, Asheville was part of the Cherokee Nation. Bearing the name Untokiasdiyi, meaning “Where they race,” the Cherokee people used the area as a gathering place.

Settlement didn’t occur until after the Revolutionary War, in 1784, when Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family arrived, claiming land through a soldier’s grant. The settlement, initially named “Morristown,” was later renamed Asheville in honor of North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe.

Asheville became an important outpost in the Blue Ridge Mountains, attracting famous travelers like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. The city flourished during the railway boom into the 1920s but faced a significant setback during the stock market crash of 1929. However, thanks to a committed urban renewal plan and efforts to maintain the city’s charm, Asheville transformed into the vibrant culture hub it is today.

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

The Magnetic Theatre

Fine Arts Theatre

Attic Salt Theatre Company

Asheville Performing Arts Academy

The Montford Park Players

North Carolina Stage Company

Asheville Community Theatre

Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

The History of Asheville

EXPLORE