Asheville's 1916 flood: See photos of the devastation (2024)

Postcard from west bank of French Broad looking south toward Smith Bridge and West Asheville Bridge during flood of July 1916. Smith Bridge was washed out later during the flood. Houses in West Asheville in foreground. Depot section of Riverside Drive and Lyman Street in left background.

Sepia realphoto postcard showing Southside Avenue during the flood of July 1916 as two people stand in the submerged street. This area was another one of Asheville's thriving Black business districts.

A still from "Come Hell or High Water" shows the damage from 1916's flood in Asheville.

From the archives: A tropical depression likely passed near Asheville in mid-July 1916, causing the legendary flooding seen here.

From the archives: "No water shortage here. Railroad Depot on left across street from old hotel. Note street cars at right. 1916 flood."

The German internees used driftwood found along the French Broad River from 1916 floods to construct a makeshift German village.

The main train station in Asheville, built circa 1905, was this white stucco palace on Depot Street across from the Glen Rock Hotel. It survived the Flood of 1916 and was razed on Dec. 5, 1968. From Asheville, passenger service also went to New York, Cincinnati, and Murphy.

A photo of submerged Asheville Railroad cars during the 1916 flood.

Asheville Citizen front page of July 19, 1916. The Citizen itself had much difficulty during the flood and produced an abbreviated form following the disaster. They had to operate at first with no electric lights or electric machinery.

Depot Street as it appeared during the flood of 1916.

Twisted iron debris from Smith Bridge (1881) after the 1916 flood. Group of men standing at the water's edge surveying the damage.

Southern Railway Station after the flood of July 16, 1916. Asheville Grocery Co. just beyond. West Asheville Bridge in the left background. Two submerged trolley cars in front of Glen Rock Hotel (building with rounded turret on right side of photo at 400 Depot St.) across the street from the depot. Two men drowned here trying to pass food to people stranded in the hotel.

Butler Bridge in Asheville was covered by the flooding of the French Broad River in July 1916.

Riverside Park, near Montford Avenue, was built by the Asheville Electric Co. in 1904 and destroyed by the flood of 1916.

Sepia photo-offset of south Depot Street from the Highland Hotel, during 1916 flood. Southern Railway Station (1904) and Asheville Grocery Co. on right. Two streetcars stranded in front of Gladstone Hotel. Building left of utility pole is A.C. Jackson grocery. Many people crowd the top of the hill behind the hotel.

Sepia-toned postcard showing West Asheville Bridge and debris piled against its south side by the July 1916 flood. Other submerged buildings and railroad cars are visible.

Flooded Southern Railway Yards 1916. Roundhouse at right.

Sepia photo-offset of south Depot St from the Highland Hotel, during 1916 flood. Southern Railway Station (1904) and Asheville Grocery Co. on right. Two streetcars stranded in front of Gladstone Hotel. Building left of utility pole is A.C. Jackson grocery. Many people crowd the top of the hill behind the hotel.

Postcard from west bank of French Broad looking south toward Smith Bridge and West Asheville Bridge during flood of July 1916. Smith Bridge was washed out later during the flood. Houses in West Asheville in foreground. Depot section of Riverside Drive and Lyman St in left background.

When two hurricanes collided over WNC in 1916, devastation followed. Here the Butler Bridge in Asheville is covered by the flooding of the French Broad River in July 1916.

Bill Alexander, landscape historian for Biltmore Estate, points to the highwater mark of the Flood of 1916 on the Gatehouse entrance into the estate.

This stacked stone wall of a well near Chimney Rock was completely exposed after the flood of 1916.

The French Broad Camp for Boys was flooded in 1916.

People gather near the depot shortly after the flood. The cafe owned by James Guthrie was located across from the depot.

Herman Guthrie estimated the floodwaters sent the depot 40 feet downstream.

This photo shows both the Capitola Manufacturing Building (right, built before 1916) and the Marshall Manufacturing Building (left), which can also be seen in the background of the flood picture under scrutiny.

Main Street in Marshall shows the effects of the Great Flood of 1916.