North Carolina Homespun Museum, Asheville

This venue was founded as a humble vocational school for mountain boys that taught woodworking and weaving arts. Over the years it was transformed into the booming Biltmore Industries, producing almost a thousand yards of fine homespun wool per day. Experience this amazing transformation through photographs and video. Memorabilia includes antique tools and tailored suits made from the fabrics that were the rage in 1920s New York City, sold world round, and even worn by presidents. The industry was hit hard by the Great Depression, was briefly revived, but never fully recovered. Commercial production declined, and finally halted in the 1980s. Weaving is demonstrated on a 60-year-old commercial four-harness loom. -Nadine Naujoks

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