Palaces for the People: Guastavino's Great American Places

From 1882 to 1943, in 31 states and six countries, Raphael Guastavino and his son created more than 600 unique tile domes and vaultings that met his criteria of health, safety, and beauty. Palaces for the People is an exhibition about his life and works that opened to great acclaim in Boston, moved to Washington, D. C., and then New York City. It is now open at Asheville Museum of History, in the city where Guastavino completed his final projects. Unable to find a seat in the tiny Catholic church in Asheville, he built his last great structure, the St. Lawrence Basilica. In Asheville, the exhibit will feature additional elements and artifacts highlighting Guastavino’s time in and around the city. The Exhibition is a co-operative venture of the Guastavino Alliance, Christmount, Swannanoa Valley Museum, and St. Lawrence Basilica.