Chestnut Hill Historic District, US national historic district in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina
Chestnut Hill Historic District is a residential neighborhood in Asheville covering about 55 acres with approximately 238 homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The architecture includes Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, and Victorian styles featuring wide porches, steep roofs, and decorative woodwork.
The area was farmland and woods in the late 1700s before houses began appearing around 1880 following the railroad's arrival. Major architects Richard Sharp Smith and J.A. Tennent designed homes for wealthy residents including lawyers, doctors, and business owners who helped build the neighborhood's character.
The name "Chestnut Hill" comes from the chestnut trees that once covered the area. The houses with their large front porches and the tree-lined streets reflect how residents once gathered outside and how the neighborhood served as a gathering place for the city's business owners, doctors, and professionals.
The neighborhood has wide, tree-lined streets with brick sidewalks and is easy to explore on foot at a relaxed pace. Take time to observe the house details from the street and enjoy the quiet setting of this residential area.
The neighborhood gained fame as a health refuge in the early 1900s when visitors came seeking the mild climate, particularly those with respiratory illnesses. Many homes served as guest houses and boarding houses, turning the district into a temporary home for countless health seekers staying for extended periods.
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