EDITOR’S NOTE: Western North Carolina is weird – and it always has been. From Cherokee myths to Bigfoot and alien encounters, the Blue Ridge Mountains host the quirky and bizarre from past and present. We would not have it any other way, and neither would you. Join us in unfolding the histories and unraveling the mysteries of this strange land we call home.
Asheville holds the distinct honor of being one of the few cities presidential candidates consistently visit during their campaigns. That tradition began almost 130 years ago.
Joining the list of cities who have seen a presidential candidate in person in 1896, the people of Asheville welcomed the arrival of Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan. Two decades later, the three-time presidential nominee bought land from one of the city’s most powerful families and built a home that remains standing today…