Topics Related to Historical Markers

Allen School (P-101)

Established in 1887 to educate African Americans in western N.C. Emerged as residential preparatory school for Black women. Was 1/3 mi. E until 1974.

"Moms" Mabley 1894-1975 (P-100)

Pioneer Black comedian, social and civil rights activist, 1920’s-1974. Born Loretta Aiken, she grew up 1/5 mi. W.

George Masa d. 1933 (P-99)

Japanese photographer. Born Masahara Iizuka. Advocate of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Trail. His studio was nearby.

Rafael Guastavino 1842-1908 (P-98)

Builder who developed tile construction method widely used in vaults & domes. Designed vaulted ceilings at Biltmore in 1894. Lived 1 mile SE.

Anne Penland 1885-1976 (P-97)

Nurse anesthetist. Her WWI service influenced British medical corps to train female anesthetists, 1918. Home was here.

NASA Tracking (P-96)

Station opened 4 mi. NW 1963 to track satellites & manned space flights. Collected data for Dept. of Defense, 1982-1995.

Flood of 1916 (P-95)

Devastated western N.C. and western Piedmont; destroyed homes, crops, mills, bridges. Four lives lost, July 16, near main gate of Biltmore Estate.

Jimmie Rodgers 1897-1933 (P-94)

“Singing Brakeman” lived in Asheville, 1927. Began his country music career with radio broadcasts on WWNC, then 50 yds. W.

Geodesic Domes (P-93)

Prototype domes built nearby in 1948 & 1949 by Buckminster Fuller while he taught at Black Mountain College.

Sunburst (P-92)

Model logging village established in 1905. Supplied lumber to WWI effort & Champion paper mill. Flooded by Lake Logan, 1932. Was here.