Along with antiquing I also love to visit historic houses throughout the country. I love them not only for their architectural beauty and interior design, but it's fascinating to see how people throughout history lived and how they used the items I'm always seeing in antique stores. The biggest of them all is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore was the summer home of George Washington Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius 'Commodore' Vanderbilt, the owner of the New York Central Railroad during the Victorian and Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts were one of the prominent millionaire families of New York along with the Astors and Morgans, and their wealth is highly apparent in their summer homes and cottages. George commissioned the Biltmore in 1889 and its doors opened in 1895. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the mansion is in the style of a French château, has a floor space of 178,926 square feet, and 250 rooms. There is an elevator, a gymnasium, bowling alley, and even a pool in the basement. George married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in 1898 and they had one child, Cornelia, who was born and grew up on the estate. Biltmore is still owned and operated by descendants of Cornelia.
Exterior
Statue in gazebo at top of hill.
Inset conservatory at the entrance.
Breakfast room, with portrait of George's grandfather.
Dining room
Salon
Music room
Balcony
Tapestry gallery
Library
Mr. Vanderbilt's bedroom
Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedroom
Oak sitting room
Louis XV room
Damask room
Claude room
Chimney room
Second floor living hall, with portrait of the Cecils, Cornelia's descendants.
Third floor living hall
Billiard room
Smoking room/Gun room
Bowling alley/Gymnasium/Pool
Halloween room, painted by Cornelia and her husband for a themed party around New Year's(this information was found after the room was named).
View from terraced stone patio
Further Research:
The Biltmore Estate
Wikipedia: Biltmore Estate
Wikipedia: The Four Hundred
Wikipedia: Vanderbilt Family
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