UNC Asheville opened its doors in 1927 (as Buncombe County Junior College) – so there have been decades of memories made and recorded at the school. But even before the university’s founding, Asheville was a growing metropolitan area, with Buncombe County being established in 1792.

Thanks to UNC Asheville’s extensive archives, there are thousands of photos, documents + more that preserve the diverse culture and history of our city and WNC. With help from Special Collections, we’ve found 10 of the coolest old photos in UNC Asheville’s archives. 📸

1. 1950s

Patton Avenue in the snow, c. mid-1950s. Photo via E. M. Ball Collection; provided by UNC Asheville.

Long exposure night photo of Patton Avenue in the snow. Notable for the two African American men looking back at the camera while walking on the sidewalk. C. mid-1950s. Photo via E. M. Ball Collection.

2. 1936

Franklin D. Roosevelt talking with members of the Cherokee Nation while FDR was visiting Asheville, September 1936. E. M. Ball Collection.

Franklin D. Roosevelt talking with members of the Cherokee Nation while FDR was visiting Asheville, September 1936. E. M. Ball Collection.

3. 1961

Library at Asheville Biltmore College at "Seely's Castle." Photo via University Archives.

4. 1960

Y.M.I. Drug Store on "The Block" " downtown Asheville, 1960. Photo via Isaiah Rice Collection.

5. 1890

View of Patton Avenue, c. 1890. Photo via E. E. Brown Photo Collection.

6. 1957

Young woman at soda fountain with jukebox, 1957. Photo via Isiah Rice Collection.

7. 1961

Asheville Biltmore College moved from Seely's Castle to the current campus in 1961. It became the University of North Carolina Asheville in 1969 when it joined the UNC System.

8. 1924

First Graduating Class of Stephens-Lee High School. Photo via Heritage of Black Highlanders.

9. 1987

UNC Asheville founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in 1987. This photo features a student researcher from the very first conference.

10. 1890s

View of Battery Park Hotel, downtown Asheville, c. 1890s. Photo via E. E. Brown Photo Collection.

Explore more of UNC Asheville’s archives here. Ⓟ