Crossroads of Commerce

Crossroads of Commerce. . , City Center , Historically, the intersection before you was an important crossroads for the exchange of goods and livestock. The Buncombe Turnpike, completed in 1828, followed the original trading path created by Native Americans, stretching from the Tennessee State line through Asheville into South Carolina., Today this intersection, known as Pack Square, is still the heart of Asheville's cultural crossroads. Popular restaurants and shops occupy some of the oldest standing structures in the city (c. 1880s). Only half a block to the south, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts hosts world-class musical and theatrical performances. Across the square to the east, the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center tells the story of one of the nation's most creative experiments in arts education. The seven-story Biltmore Building, with its rows of windows was envisioned by renowned architect I.M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre Pyramid, among other iconic buildings., Culinary Creativity , Asheville draws on its long farming heritage and Southern hospitality traditions to rank among the top culinary destinations in the US. More than a dozen James Beard Foundation, recognized chefs and culinary experts call Asheville home. Inspired by cuisines ranging from Indian street food to traditional Appalachian foodways, Asheville chefs are attracting national recognition., Similarly, beverage artisans are roasting, steeping, and fermenting delicious craft beverages from coffee to spirits to kombucha, in addition to the 50+ breweries that transform clear mountain water into craft beer varieties., (captions) , Below Asheville's first skyscraper, the Jackson Building, towards above the 1920s skyline. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Public Library, Asheville, North Carolina , Left More than a dozen tailgate farmers markets pop up across the Asheville area each week, perfect for taking home locally grown produce, fresh baked goods or artisan wares., Below Asheville's sidewalk dining patios are part of what earned the city the nickname "Paris of the South." Enjoy a farm-to-table meal, a craft beverage or a late night treat al fresco., Left Pack Square has often been the site of public celebrations and demonstrations, such as this one at the beginning of World War I in 1917. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Public Library, Asheville, North Carolina