Asheville Radio Museum

Visiting from Charlotte suggested by a friend we came over the museum. Ronald greeted us with great energy and enthusiasm introducing us to the wonders of the museum and all the perks they have there. from top to bottom and to left to right we learned about history, anecdotes and facts about radio and all the equipment displayed on the shelves. Great host and history in that small space that deserve to be bigger. Totally worth the time and big recommendation for anyone interested in radio history. Be aware Saturdays only they open from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. You must visit! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Excellent little place with knowledgeable attendant. A must see if you are in the area and into electronics. It was a bit hard to find, you have to go around the back of the building, the other doors were locked.

The Asheville Radio Museum is gem, a unique experience enhanced by knowledgeable and entertaining staff. Some of these radios are works of art, all have stories. Great fun and i learned a lot.

My family visited the museum on a Saturday and were surprised at the variety and depth of the collection It was a fascinating and easy visit with great information provided by the volunteer.. Highly recommended especially for younger visitors who have no idea where all the tech started and developed until today . We also found a 'home' for two vintage radios from our attic.

What an amazing experience!! I had no idea how much early radio was involved with Asheville, nor how radio got to be! Stuart gave us a wonderful tour full of so many fascinating facts! The collection has some great historic pieces that are a treat to see. Definitely worth a visit.

My husband and I have always enjoyed our visits to the Asheville Radio Museum.The all-volunteer staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the radios and associated equipment have been accurately and lovingly restored. There are some absolute gems in their collection. Take the time to visit the Museum (open Saturday afternoons from 1pm until 3pm) for a nostalgic and informative trip down Memory Lane!

I enjoyed my visit to the museum! Super friendly and educational staff. They have some really neat old stuff I never knew existed. It’s a small place but was worth a visit.

What a delight! Whether you're into amateur radio or just fascinated with the history and evolution of communication, visiting the Asheville Radio Museum is a sound decision. The volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable and they are happy to share their stories about getting many of the donations that the museum receives in working order. This allows visitors to have an interactive experience with some truly amazing technology, complete with informative descriptions for everything on display. From vacuum tubes to Morse Code machines (and even a couple unique antique telephones) I only regret not coming in sooner. I will definitely be back!

We had a delightful visit to the Asheville Radio Museum with Peter as our guide. It was a mini-history lesson and had interactive exhibits. Be sure to stroll the 3rd floor hallways to see more on display that the room can't contain. We enjoyed seeing the original Walton's radio and early portable transistor ones. Saturdays 1-3 and check the web site for special events.

A great collection of radios! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Viewing the radios brought back many wonderful memories. We have told our amateur radio friends in SE Georgia to visit the museum when in the Asheville area. They won't be disappointed.
We have revisited several times and always enjoy seeing the equipment and talking with the staff and other visitors.

Excellent info given by the host Ron and he made our experience visiting there a even funner day in Ashville. Such a fun experience learning about all the radios and so much more in there!

Wonderful museum! Ron was extremely helpful and provided excellent information. The collection is very impressive. Definitely worth a visit!

WOW! That was my response in seeing radio history in those old creations! Mr. Stuart Smolkin, Museum Curator and our guide, made those ole long dead “bones” of wires, tubes, horns and mysterious little things called resistors, capacitors, and inductors come alive and speak again! Stuart, was our Moses who guided us old radio guys through the “red” sea all over again! It was an experience that brought back many years of nostalgia to this old man that began his journey into the science of radio as a boy some eighty years ago. When I was about six or seven years old, my dad saw me playing with some old radio parts, said, “Boy, if you learn to fix those things, you could make some money”! I built a crystal set, ties it to the chicken fence and listened to amazing sounds that still stir me with wonder after all these years! It is written somewhere, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings!” That experience began my journey into the world of electronics as a career.
I want to extend my “Thanks” to my fellow Hams in the Franklin Ham Club for setting up this very interesting trip into the past. And a special thanks to Chip K2KJD and David, ND1J for the ride over and for sharing info long lost to me during my “years in the wilderness” due to many years of being “off the air”! It’s good to be back in the Ham world!
A very special “Thank You” to Stuart for sharing his passion for the history of Radio with the group. For anyone that has the least interest in the wonder of Radio and its history should make a special effort to visit the Asheville NC Radio Museum! It will be an unforgettable experience. Who knows, you may kick-start some kid into the wonder of science and technology, for it is also written “If man can think it, he can do it!”
73’s
Jim KB4LPH

This museum, though quaint, is incredible and certainly not lacking. The size of the museum may deter you, but this one-of-a-kind experience and extensive amounts of history and knowledge will certainly keep you entertained and intrigued. Ron made me feel very comfortable and clearly has a passion and more knowledge about Radio than one can ever imagine. Overhearing him and a guest chatting about the history and interesting information about each specific radio, especially transoceanic, was an experience that even Google couldn’t share. Thank you for having this open and I am grateful to have made a stop here on my trip!

Visit to the museum is a walk back in time. It was a such a good place for me that I became a member of the museum and a volunteer. I'm sure you will enjoy your time at the museum. Update 3/18/2021. This is to correct my one star review. I accidentally hit the wrong button. The Asheville Radio Museum is 5 stars. Also thanks to Andrew who noticing my mistake.

My wife, daughter and I visited the museum this past Father's Day weekend. We had a great time taking a walk into the past when radio ruled the airwaves. The museum has some wonderfully restored radios and ham equipment. Definitely worth the visit.

Nicely done displays and helpful, informative staff. A great visit for radio enthusiasts, ham operators, and their families.

This is a wonderful little museum on the AB Tech campus that is well worth a visit. Our friendly host Peter shared some fascinating stories and demonstrations that really brought the history of radio to life. My sons particularly enjoyed tapping out messages in Morse code!

Our organization recently took a tour of the Asheville Radio Museum , and it greatly exceeded our expectations. This mini-museum on the third floor of the Elm Building at AB Tech is a little-known gem among Asheville attractions. The museum has one of the largest collection of old radios in the Southeast.

Stuart Smolkin, the museum's curator, gave our group the tour. He had some fascinating stories of the history of radio and demonstrated several old radios and other devices, including a century-old Edison phonograph.

Whether you collect antique radios or have an interest in ham radio, CB radio or just want to learn a bit about the science and history of radio and telegraph, you'll enjoy a tour of this little museum. Admission is free (though donations are appreciated), and parking nearby is also free and easy. The museum currently is open only on Saturdays from 1 to 3 pm.

My brother, my husband, and myself enjoyed our visit at the Asheville Radio Museum as Tim McVey was very insightful and delightful as he educated us on the many inquisitive questions we had for him. I highly recommend this tour for anyone who, like us, are a little nostalgic for the "good 'ole days". Blessings!