Jackson Building (Asheville, North Carolina)

Jackson Building opened in 1924 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Jackson Building in Asheville, NC.

The Jackson Building is a 140 ft (43m) 15-story building[1] in Asheville, North Carolina which was completed in 1924[2] in Pack Square downtown. It was the first skyscraper in western North Carolina.

History

The site chosen by developer L. B. Jackson was previously that of the tombstone business operated by Thomas Wolfe's father. Jackson hired architect Ronald Greene.[3] Jackson built the city's first skyscraper because he believed in Asheville's real estate market.[4]

The Neo-Gothic building was fully occupied when it opened in 1924. The observation tower had a 400x telescope and an 18 million candlepower searchlight[2] intended to attract tourists.[4]The grotesques on each corner are not functional, there are small holes in the mouths to let water escape and not freeze in the terracotta. Next to the Jackson Building was the 8-story Westall Building, also designed by Greene[5] which was not large enough for its own elevator. For this reason, the two buildings have the same elevator system.[3]

The Jackson Building is ranked number 7 among the top 10 tourist attractions in North Carolina.[6]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=jacksonbuilding-asheville-nc-usa, Retrieved on 2009/01/27.
  2. 1 2 Chase, Nan K. (2007). Asheville: A History. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7864-3176-2.
  3. 1 2 http://www.packsquarepark.org/content/view/64/87/, Retrieved on 2009/01/27.
  4. 1 2 http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/asheville/pac.htm, Retrieved on 2009/01/27.
  5. ↑ http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=9371, Retrieved on 2009/01/27.
  6. ↑ http://carolinas.choicehotels.com/north-carolina-hotels/top10attractions, Retrieved on 2009/01/27.
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Coordinates: 35°35′42″N 82°33′02″W / 35.5949°N 82.5505°W / 35.5949; -82.5505


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