The Biltmore Estate - America's Versailles

George Vanderbilt's "Little Mountain Escape"

The Biltmore House Today

After the Civil War America became a nation of highly concentrated wealth. The industrial revolution and the perfection of vertical monopolies meant America's economy diverted the nations wealth into fewer pockets resulting in grave disparities between classes. This led to the American economy becoming fragile. The result was a series of financial panic's in 1893, 1896, 1901 and 1907. Yet, the rich just continued to get richer. 

Eventually the Great Depression, moves to enable labor unions and congressional moves to limit monopolies began to level the economic playing field. 

This, of course, was in stark contrast to much of America suffering from crushing poverty. The South was recovering from the devastation of the Civil War and rapidly decaying tenements in big cities became overcrowded with immigrants lured to America to supply the rapidly growing nation's industrial appetite for cheap labor.

Mark Twain called it America's "Gilded Age" as a bitingly satirical explanation of the increasing societal polarization of classes separated by "a thin artificial layer of gold".

As history tends to repeat itself, consider that we now live in a nation with an even larger income inequality between rich and poor.

But at the turn of the Century, in places like Newport Rhode Island, and along New York's 5th Avenue, America's "Robber Barons" were in fierce competition to find new ways to demonstrate their vast wealth. 

In 1883 Cornelius Vanderbilt II completed America's largest residence (taking up a full city block on New York's 5th Avenue). Cornelius and his wife christened the house in full King / Queen of France costumes. 

He died 5 years after its completion and his wife continued to live in it. Soon after her passing however, it was demolished to build the Bergdorf Goodman Department Store. The huge edifice endured less than 50 years.

At the same time, after many visits to the mountains of North Carolina with his mother, Cornelius Vanderbilt's brother George imagined the creation of a "little mountain escape" in Asheville NC. And, to this pursuit, George set about spending much of his epic inheritance. 

He retained the same superstar architect Richard Morris Hunt, who had just designed his brother's house. Hunt was also known for designing the base to the Stature of Liberty and the facade to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

He also hired the "father of American landscape architecture" and designer of New York's Central Park,  Frederick Law Olmstead. 

Together his little mountain escape grew in size easily surpassing his own brother's home in New York. And to this day, his Biltmore Estate stands as America's largest private residence. 

To fill the house he sought some of the best artists of the era. John Singer Sargent was enlisted to paint numerous portraits. James McNeill Whistler was also commissioned. His friendship with George grew to the point where George served as a pallbearer at Whistler's funeral. 

 Frederick Law Olmstead

(John Singer Sargent)

George and his team made numerous trips to Europe to acquire art, furniture and ideas. He purchased 125,000 acres and conceived of Biltmore as a self-sustaining estate.

The Atrium

Vanderbilt's French Chateau inspired mountain "escape" ultimately grew to more than 175,000 square feet with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 54 fireplaces. Construction spanned from 1889-1895.

The Cantilevered Grand Stair 

The home initially featured direct current DC electrical power and lighting (due to Vanderbilt's friendship with Thomas Edison), a bowling alley, gymnasium and an indoor swimming pool.

Dining at Biltmore

The Dining Room

Some of the biggest artistic, industrial and political luminaries of the era were wined and dined at the Estate. Since travel was arduous they might plan to bring their own servants and stay for weeks at a time.

The Billiard Room

The "Bachelor's Wing" at Biltmore included the Billiard Room (complete with secret doors) and an adjacent gun room.                                             

The Gardens and Fish Ponds

(Wedding photos underway on the terrace above, note the bride posing in the photo)

The Immense Indoor Pool 

Indoor pools were rare in the Biltmore era, yet Biltmore had one. I understand that a modern attempt to fill it disclosed that it leaked all 70,000 gallons overnight to a subbasement. Note the amazing brick arch ceiling with ropes hanging down for tired swimmers to hang on to.

The Bowling Alley

The fledgling Brunswick Company personally installed the Biltmore's basement bowling alley. Not yet automated, it required attendants to position themselves behind the flared walls to return the bowling balls and reset the pins.

The family still owns and operates the estate. 

Self guided tours currently begin at $76 if you reserve your arrival time online.

Roadboy's Travels © 2021