By Marc Liverman
JUNE 24, 2026 – Station 26 — Past and Promise, part of the Urban Trail in downtown Asheville. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Two women who helped preserve downtown Asheville’s rich and storied history are being remembered with the legacy they left behind, an Urban Trail walking tour more than 2 miles long.
Asheville residents Grace Pless and Leslie Anderson launched the Urban Trail project more than 40 years ago.
But both women died within the last year and a half, so on Wednesday, June 24, a group of volunteers held a ceremony to celebrate the pioneers. It was held along the downtown walking trail, made up of 33 stations marking monuments and moments in time.
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“We have such a rich history here. So many folks came to town who were guests of the Vanderbilts way back when, many of those talented artists or others, stayed in Asheville,” said Amy Fleming, daughter of founder Grace Pless.
Two women, 40 years, one lasting legacy: Asheville honors Urban Trail founders
The plaques are also meant to memorialize some of the city’s trailblazers.
JUNE 24, 2026 – Station 2 — Crossroads, part of the Urban Trail in downtown Asheville. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“I think it’s cool, the first female doctor went to school in Asheville, and her station is right there, her name is Elizabeth Blackwell and it’s right there on the wall,” Fleming said.
Urban Trail organizers say there’s a reason it took four decades to complete the project.
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“They’ve been working on it ever since. We kept thinking we were finished and then we realized some verbiage on a plaque needs to be updated or we learned new facts,” said Urban Trail Committee Chair Stacy Anderson.
All of it brought to life thanks to two pioneers and the generations now following in their footsteps.
“She’s proud. I think she’s resting well,” Fleming said.