Ever wonder how this wireless transmission of audio happened? We did too, and that wondering began a fascinating adventure to find out when and who did it and how did they figure it all out???
Broadcast radio was 100 years old in November of 2020, the very first commercial radio broadcast was the Harding-Cox Presidential election, and since that early technology has evolved into radar, GPS, and wifi, which is vital to us today.
Asheville’s oldest community radio station (WPVM), produced a short documentary “Asheville World of Radio”—featuring our mini-museum of vintage radios and radio history memorabilia. If you would like to visit the station send us a text message at 828 335 4343 or use the contact form at the bottom of this page. We will be happy to give you a personal tour. Give us a few hours notice and we will meet you at the station located conveniently on Wall St. in downtown Asheville.
The video is just under 18 minutes and gives you a whirlwind tour of major events in world history, the arts, music, and radio in the times of the internet, coupled with the vintage to modern radios of each time period.
If you found this page from Explore Asheville, we thank you for your visit hope you enjoy the video in lieu of an actual visit to the small museum in our station lobby. You can take the sounds of Asheville’s unique art and culture scene home and have a virtual vacation anytime. We are available on any device, so see below the video on how to keep in touch with Asheville.
The collection of artifacts in WPVM’s exhibition—carefully researched and artfully curated—connects viewers through an entertaining historical progression of radio technology ending in our state of the art broadcast studio which connects the modern era of digital broadcasting on the airwaves and the internet.
The incredible engineering and building required to broadcast 1,200,000 watts was astounding. How times have changed, because now one can relay messages out to the world through their smartphone..
MANY WAYS TO LISTEN TO WPVM LIVE
In Asheville and the French Broad River valley tune into 103.7 on your FM dial.
Or tell Siri to play WPVM-lp Download TuneIn, MyTuner or Receiver Radio on your smart tv or computer.
Mobile devices can add WPVM’s player on this link.
Or listen live on Alexa; download the app and tell Alexa to play “Radio Asheville”. or “The Voice of Asheville.”