Asheville, NC
Biltmore Estate Trip
My first time going
July 26, man that was a long drive we got in in time for dinner
July 27 is our day at Biltmore
little background info:
Vanderbilt arrived in Asheville, N.C., in the late 19th century as his mother’s traveling companion. At the time, the southern Appalachian Mountains were famous for their restorative health claims. Tourists flocked to the region to enjoy its mineral springs and mild climate. George decided to build a house here for his mom and him to say at then stay in a hotel.
It took six years to build the house. In 1888 George began purchasing land that eventually amounted to 125,000 acres.
Construction began a year later by what is reported as 1,000 talented craftsmen. Biltmore opened to the family on Christmas eve 1895.
It takes minimum of 5 hours to explore the house:The house is on 175,000 square feet witch is four acres. Almost 10 million pounds of limestone was used to build it. The entire estate originally covered 125,000 acres now it's a modest 8,000 acres. It has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces and so much more to see.
The Lodge Gate
Is the first thing you see when you enter the estate. the lodge gat provided round the clock security by the resident gatekeeper. *After you enter if you don't already have tickets turn left (I believe)or ask someone when you drive in they can point you in the right diretion before driving the long ways to the house.
The house and the stables
When George Vanderbilt began building his dream home in Asheville in 1889, he envisioned a French Renaissance chateau 16th-century castles that he had seen in the Loire Valley of France.
*Once you do in throw the front doors you can get your self-guided auto device and learn about the house that has three floors and the basement you can visit at your own pace. rooms saw in the order of the self ruined route.
Eatery and Main Staircase
The Winter Garden
With the glass roof for the garden room's where quite stylish during the Victorian era. The focus point in this room is the marble and bronze fountain sculpture. This is in the center part of the main floor you can see into it from the Banquet hall aka the dinning room, Breakfast room, Salon, Tapestry Gallery
The Banquet Hall
is the largest room in the house it's 72 feet long by 24 Feet wide and a 70 foot high ceiling. The Vanderbilts dined in this room whether it was set for 32 or 2. The Christmass festivities are held here annual that continues to this day. The oran at the top right was not originally installed but a organ from that time period has been restored and placed here. The flags hanging in the room include the Biltmore Estate service flag commemorating the staff members who fought in world war I, and replicas of flames from the American Revolution and the 13 original colonies. The ones hanging above the fireplace represent countries in power when Christopher Columbus sailed to North America.
The Breakfast room
is on more intimate scale than the dinning room. This room was for less formal dinning for breakfast and lunch. Nevertheless the room itself is elegant and charming. From the Italian marble for the wainscoting ( to cover the lower part of the walls) and the door trim. the wall covering is a tooled leather ( is any piece of leather the has been worked on to any to have design, initials, or any other decorative look applied to it). The fireplace is surrounded with Wedgwood-style jasper ware tile. The ceiling is ornate plasterwork with a gold-tinted glaze. if you look for it you will see tiny acorns one of the symbols in the Vanderbilt family crest. You will see family portraits along with famous art works.
The Top Painting is by Maxime Maufra's " Vue du Port" ( View of the Harbor in Sunset)
The bottom left is by Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Young Algerian Woman" and the bottom right is done by the same painter " Young Boy with an Orange".
P.S If you look closely you will see the hidden door the "young boy with an orange" hangs on that door....
Durring World War II Priceless pieces of art had to be hidden but where did it go????
click on link worth the read trust me.
The Salon
This room was never finished during the time George lived at Biltmore, during this time the was hidden from the view by velvet draperies. It is a completed mystery why. In 1920's Edith made the room into a Turkish sitting room. The ceiling is a draped with fabric, Persian rugs, and floor pillows. In 1930 when the house was opened to the public the room was reinterpreted as the Print Room. Most recently the room as a formal sitting room and furnished with elegant examples of French styles popular in the 1700's from George original collection. Their are eight Louis XVI style settees and chairs of ebonite work and ormolu. the walls are adorned with prints by Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. These were among George most treasured artworks.
The Music Room
This room also remained unfinished for 81 years.what had been an empty space with bare brick walls was finally completed and opened in 1976. The wall is carved with red oak paneling from Biltmore's forest, on the ceiling boxed beams a polychrome painting. The fireplace mantel was designed by Hunt and carved by Dürer's initial and life dates was found in the stables prior to the installation in the music room. Hanging above the fireplace is a late 18th- century printing of the woodcut know as the Triumphal Arch it measuring 10 feet high and 10 feet wide. The work depicts military and political events. This room was also designee to display several of his treasures. On the shelves is a rare collection of 12 apostle figures and 12 candlesticks. Based on statuary in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The Back Porch
OMG look at that view
The Tapestry Gallery
is an oping off the Entrance hall makes a perfect sitting area to read a book. This room is a 90 foot loon room designed to display the three silver and wall tapestries woven in Brussels around 1530. Part of the original set of seven known as The Triumph of the Seven Virture. Their are three 19th century Persian rugs. There are three family portraits.
The first one is of George it hangs over the door painted in 1890. The next one is of george's mother Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt painted around 1888 bothe George and his mother was painted by John Singer Sargent. The last painting is Edith painted in 1911 by Giovanni Boldini.
The Library
in all the room of the house this room is the best reflects George intellect and personality. He was an avid reader and book lover form a young age. At the age of 11 he stated collecting books. He had more than 22,000 volumes and, about 10,000 of them are house in the library's walnut stacks. George loved sharing his books in his library with his guests. There is a passage behind the mantel leading to the second floor which provided easy access for guests to select any book they want for bed time reading. The dramatic ceiling painting The Chariot of Aurora, a venetian artist Giovaani Pellegrini. It was originally located in the ballroom of the Pisani Palace in Venice Italy. The work comprises 13 separate canvases that measures 64 feet long by 32 feet wide. The black marble fireplace surrounded and the walnut overmantel. Baroque style cravings and two female figures carved by Bitter flank the 17th century French tapestry.
Now your go up the staircase to the second floor
Second Floor Living Hall
the original function as a picture gallery and the formal hallway where the guests would meet up before going down the grand staircase for the evening meal.
There are several notable works of art hanging in this room.
these two architects who helped George take his vision of Biltmore into reality. The one on the right with the landscape designer is Frederick Law Olmsted. The one on the left is Richard Morris Hunt he stood in front of the outside stair tower. Both were painted by John Singer Sargent May 1895.
Between the two windows is the portrait of William A. V. Cecil Family.
at the end is The Waltz by Anders Zorn. Gorge purchased the paiting in 1893 at the world's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Need to find info...
Second Floor Corridor
first painting; Going to the Opera, next painting need to find info, and the last photo is a unfinished painting need to find info.
Going to the Opera is family portrait depicting William Henry Vanderbilt family 1873 by Seymour Guy. George is the 11 year old boy that is seating at the table.
George Bedroom
his bedroom is located in the southwest corner of the house, here he as breath taking views of his property. All the furniture was designed by Hunt made out of walnut. Surrounded by fine by fine engravings by 16th and 17th century artists from Holland, Germany and bronze sculptures from the 19th century from France. George had a full working bathroom. Even tho indoor pumping was found in affluent homes as early as the 1830s, Fully equipped bathrooms with sink, toilet, and bath or shower were still uncommon in 1890s. Rarer still was running hot water provided by two water heaters in the sub-basement later converted to electricity.
Oak Sitting Room
George and Edith shared breakfast in this room between their bedrooms. It is also where Edith planned the day with her head housekeeper, ensuring her guests were provided every possible luxury. The plaster ceiling is a webbed with intricate strap work, the cornice frieze is marked with repeating coats of arms, and the walls are covered with exquisitely carved oak paneling. In the corner near the fireplace is a carved ebony cabinet on stand made in Paris in 1600s with the doors open to reveal a classically inspired architectural scene. It is decorated with patterned coloring, marbleized columns and gilt trimmed statuary overlooking a troupe-l'oeil landscape painting. The two portraits are by Sargent, the one with the black dress is Mrs. Walter Rathbone Bacon is a cousin and close friend of George and the one in light gray dress is Mrs. Benjamin Kissam is George's Aunt.
Before we move on to Edith's bedroom let's give some background info on Edith.
Edith's was member of a prominent family. Among her family tree was Peter Stuyvesant, the first governor of Dutch colonial New York in mid 17th century along with senators, judges, and mayors. Edith was orphaned at age of ten. Edith had a sister and they were raised by their maternal grandmother Newport, Rhode Island.
Her courtship with George began in Paris in 1897, but they had already known each other for several years.
They got engaged in April 1898 and the couple marred in June 1898 in Paris. They arrived at Biltmor in October after a European honeymoon.
Edith's Bedroom
This graceful, Feminine room was designed as a counterpart to George's bedroom. This room was decorated in 1897 to 98 in preparation to George's upcoming wedding. After the wedding it became Edith Stuyvesant Dresser Vanderbilt bedroom.
The oval shaped bedroom looks today like it did the first time Edith saw it for the first time. The bedroom is decorated in Louis XV style which originated in France around 1725 and remained popular with Americans in the late 1800s. The walls are covered with silk wall covering, fancily trimmed mirrors, Savonnerie carpets, velvet draperies for the windows and bed. The two marble topped commodes are French period furniture, the chairs and chaise are also in the Louis XV also with white frames and in the same fabric on chairs and bed coverings.
Third Flood Living Hall
this room is a sitting are, upstairs library for the guests staying on the third floor. They could take tea, match wits over parlor games, curl up with a book, or listen to the reproducing piano. George inherited the elaborately carved display cabinets from his father. Made by Herter Brothers of New York, they were originally used in the dinning room of William H Vanderbilt's Fifth Ave home. It is believed that George contracted William Baumgarten & Co. around 1905.They reconstruct the cabinets into being free standing furniture. There are three library tables and three open bookcases in the room feature the same renaissance Revival motifs. There are a lot of decorative objects that came from the large art collection of George's father. These include the Satauma garniture two vases and a pail painted with realistic insects, a ship's portrait of the merchant vessel William H. Vanderbilt, and bronze figure Jean Louis Meissonier by Vincenzo Gemito.
Guess Rooms:
Watson Room
Named after the 18th century Engraver James Watson. The room reflects the Irish artist's refined neoclassical style. The furniture the set is made from Mahogany and this is the only Boxwood twin beds from England. The vivid purple irises and multicolored flowers is on the dominant fabric from the original late 19th century textile. This same fabric is on a pair of drapery panels and two side chairs. Both colors of the fabric and the room's trim coordinate with the fireplace's marble. The inkstand on the tambour top desk is an exquisites early 19th century Chinese porcelain pieces and a late 19th century French gilt bronze.
Van Dyck Room
Named after Anthony Van Dyck was a 17th century Dutch painter and a prints of all his famous portraits hand on the walls. The furnished furnished to a Colonial Revival motif that was widely used in the early 20th century. The deep green trim and terra cotta and then the tan floral wallpaper worked with the 19th century furniture, the mahogany chest on cabinet in the style of the George III features painted scenes done by a Swiss painter Angelica Kauffman. The decoratively carved walnut bed in the France Empire style. The window seat offered guests a place to view of Deer Park.
Morland Room
named after the popular gene painter George Morland both unusual and elegant. The focus point of this room is the canopy bed with the drapery with lively animals, flower, and hunting scenes. The hand painted fabric is a reproduction of the early 19th century Indian chintz. The original fabric panes hung in the dining room wall of the cottage in Stressa, Italy for Edith and George 1898 honeymoon. The Oak and lined daybed and armchair are covering in coordination fabric of exotic birds, flower, and foliage in shades of blue and red. All of this is highlighted by the light turquoise damask pattern.
Masonna Room
The chest at the foot of the bed is a cassone also known as a marriage chest made in the Italian Renaissance style. On the chest is carved cherubs holding swages of wheat, pinecones, and fruit. This chest was made for George's father by Herter Bros. The chest was converted from a cabinet owned by William H. Vanderbilt. To the right o the bed is an Italian chest of drawers made out of rosewood, burr maple or birch, and mahogany with intricate gilt wood inlyy. The print over the bed is by a German printmaker Friedrick Muller is called La Madonna de San Sisto but the orgenal was done by a Renaissance artist Raphael Sanzio. La Madonna di San Sisto is one of his famous portrayal of the little angels and the bottom of the painting.
Bowling Alley
the sport of bowling was broght to America in the 1600a with the Dutch settlers and had become pope;ar pastime by the 1800s. Here at Biltmore both man and woman played on one of he first bowling alleys in a privet home. The bowling alleys were installed in 1895. Durable tape planks were laid along the first thrird of the lanes with takes the most wear from the balls hitting it, then the softer pine was used on the remaindng where the balls rolled. you had to go down and get your ball and reset the pins yourself.
Dressing rooms
back in 1890s each activity had its own dress code, for which the ladies and gentlemen had to change their clothes several times a day. To change for activetys guest used these dressing rooms which arrayed along separate halls for man and woman. This way the guest did not have to take the long trip up to there rooms potentially embarrassing trip in the immodestly attired.
Swimming pool
70,000 gallon indoor pool. it measurement is 53 feet long 27 feet wide and 9 1/2 feet deep. The tilework pool was equipped with underwater lighting, safety ropes, and diving platform. It was filled with hot water throw the black hole.
Both men and woman would have worn bathing costumes that down to the knee and up to the neck when enjoying the indoor pool.
Gymnaum
in the 19th century was primarily a male precinct. Family and guests could tone their muscles with the most up-todate equipment of the time. Including parallel bars, chain driven rowing machine, and wall mounted pulleys with adjustable wights. They also offered barbells, medicine balls, Indian clubs for refined athletes, a fencing set. After a vigorous workout they could cool down in the showers.
The downstairs
all the different kinds of Pantries and walk in Refrigerators
with a house the size of Biltmore and all who lived here from family members, guests and the staff, Biltmore required and extremely large larder's seeing how they bought in bulk. example from one list back in 1896
28 pounds of lamb leg and lion, 52 pounds of prime beef ribs, 22 broiling and roasting chickens, 62 pounds of muskmelons, and two baskets of peaches. That is in addetion to the fresh produce, meat, and dairy products from the estate farm operations. All were kept in a series of Pantries. The vegetable pantry wold hold binds of fruits and vegetables. The small pantry was for canned goods, the housekeeper's also had canned goods along with a desk used by the head house keeper. There was two walk in food coolers that utilized a chilled brine solution circulating through the pipes in their interiors. This was a novelty in the late 1800s when most homes still relied on iceboxes and springhouses.
The Servent's Bedrooms
at any given time their is 30 to 35 servants working at Biltmore. The man and woman lived in separate halls according to sex and rank. The servants bedroom of the kitchen staff, which included cooks assistants and scullery maids. The rooms are light, airy and comfortable have chairs, chestnut dressers and wardrobes, and iron beds and washstand holding. Based upon their duties and the time of day service dress changed accordingly.
The Biltmore Kitchen
Cooking chores were carried out in three specialized areas. Staffed by a large numbers of chefs, cooks, and maids, the kitchens turned out everything from a cup of tea to the lavish dinners that were invoke at the end of the 19th century.
Pastry Kitchen
was used for fine baking and provided all manner of popular breads and rich confections. Dough was rolled out on the marble topped table built under the window. The stone slabs like this are preferred by bakers because dough is less likely to stick to the surface. Pastries were baked in two ovens, and dough and perishable ingredients were kept chilled in one of the refrigerators.
Rotisserie Kitchen
was used for roasting meat, poultry, and game (pheasant, duck, venison and other animals brought back from shooting parties). The iron rotisserie oven, Fueled by wood or coal, features a mechanized rotary spit whose speed can be regulated by the electric rheostat mounted on the wall. Adrip pan caught grease spatters, and large overhead vent hood drew off the smoke.
The Main Kitchen
most of the cooking took place here. Worked started early in the morning. The stove is seven and half feet long and a separate grill. On the other side is a tall iron cabinet, it held the pots and pans and the serving dishes.
Kitchen Pantry
Meals prepared in the kitchens had to be transported to the first floor to the Butler's Pantry, outside the Banquet hall where the food was transferred onto the serving dishes. While a warming cart was ofter used for carrying food, meals could also be sent upsides from the kitchen pantry by the two dumbwaiters one is manual and the other electric. the lifting capacity 250 pounds with speed of 100 feet per minute. They also stored the china and washing the dishes.
Servant Dining Room
Organ Motor Room
this room was used for storage until 1998 and 1916 pipe organ was installed in the Banquet Hall. So they needed a space to contain the air chase and electrical wiring needed to power the 19th century Skinner instrument.
Landry Room
The laundresses and maids handled the clothing and linens for the family, guests, and servants.
There is a belt driven barrel washer it was used to spin out any excess water. All the laundry was draped over an innovative system of rolling wooden racks that could be pulled out from a wall cabinet for air drying or pushed back into niches that were heated with electric coils running along the floor.
The Bachelor's Wing: Billiard Room
this part of the house is called the bachelor's wing. The billiard room was provided a retreat for the male guest not married. Although female guests were welcome, the room was primarily a place where men could enjoy each other's company and play billiards, carom, pool. Both games became popular by the late 18th century. The room had rich oak paneling, ornamental plaster ceiling, and deep hued Orental carpets. The leather settees, armchairs both made in London in 1895. The room is full of George's collecting of prints all British artists: Sir Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, and Sir Edwin Landseer.
The Smoking Room
Gambling, Hunting, and smoking is primary a male activity in the 1800s. having a smocking room became a required feature in fashionable country houses. Here men savored the pleasure of a cigar or pipe paired with a glass of after dinner spirits. As the men enjoyed the smoking and glass of spirits while they select a leather bound book from the collection in the room and seat down in a 17th century sofa or chairs to read a book in front of the fireplace.
The Gun Room
pays tribute to the sport ( remember the chefs would cook all the game) with had developed into such a passion by the late 1870s. Any proper house was considered incomplete without this special room. As was customary the room is outfitted with glass front cases for the firearms, including the rifles and shotguns in George collection. On the walls are 19th century are prints with sporting themes by British artists Sir Joshua, and James Ward. On the table are bronze sculptures of game animals.
The Stable
George took exceptional care of his horses. They had 25 riding and driving horses, 20 carriages, were sheltered at Biltmore in a modern stable complete with electricity, plumbing, glazed brick walls, and brass fixtures and hardware.
Also contained all the attendant service areas, including rooms for the saddles, tack, harness, blankets, and feed. As well as the living quarters for the single male servants.
Today the stable has been converted into an avenue of shops. The larges shop is located the former carriage house, while the old horse stable is made in to the restaurant stable cafe some tales tunked into the stalls.
The grounds to come soon....
