Editor’s note (10/2/24): Due to significant flooding and impassable roads in the Asheville area following Tropical Storm Helene, Biltmore will remain closed until further notice. Read more from Biltmore here, and learn how to support recovery efforts here. In the meantime, you can read about this historic home below.
Think you already know everything there is to learn about Biltmore? Read on to learn some fascinating facts about the iconic North Carolina estate.
1. Asheville can thank France for the design of its popular tourist attraction.
When George Vanderbilt began building his dream home in Asheville in 1889, he envisioned a French Renaissance chateau that intertwined architectural features of 16th-century castles he had seen in the Loire Valley of France.
“George Vanderbilt was an avid traveler. During his lifetime, he crossed the Atlantic 60 times in his lifetime, says Darren Poupore, chief curator of the Biltmore Estate. “When plans [for the house] were being discussed, he went to Europe with his architect to gain inspiration. The result was Biltmore – an American expression of those grand European estates that is truly an American design.”
2. It took 1,000 men six years to build the house.
Vanderbilt had fallen in love with Western North Carolina’s climate and scenery, and in 1888 he began purchasing land that eventually amounted to 125,000 acres. Construction began a year later by what is reported as 1,000 talented craftsmen, and Biltmore House opened to the family at Christmas 1895.
To expedite the shipments of building materials, a special railroad track opened directly to the construction site from the main railway, though it was demolished once the home was complete. (And don’t forget, Vanderbilt’s grandfather Cornelius made his fortune in the railroad industry.)
3. Biltmore House had underwater lights in its indoor swimming pool at a time when many homes were still lit with candles, oil and gas lamps.
Electricity was in its formative years during the home’s construction, so Biltmore architect Richard Morris Hunt decided to wire the home with both Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), since at the time no one knew which would become the standard. The latest technology extended all the way to the Vanderbilts’ 70,000 gallon swimming pool. Lights powered by low-voltage direct current lit the pool from under the water. Located along the sides, the lights were sealed inside glass globes protected by metal cages.
4. The architect of the estate’s gardens also created Central Park.
Frederick Law Olmsted had co-designed public parks throughout the country, starting with the iconic one in New York City. Now considered one of the fathers of landscape architecture, Olmsted was hired by Vanderbilt to develop the 8,000-acre gardens and grounds. Olmsted decided to have a grand garden area close to the house and the majestic views beyond it.
5. Mount Pisgah was once part of Biltmore.
After George Vanderbilt’s death in 1914, his wife, Edith, sold 86,700 acres to the U.S. government to honor her husband’s wishes. The land became part of Pisgah National Forest, the second national forest to open east of the Mississippi. (The first was Ocala in Florida.)
6. Biltmore is home to the most-visited U.S. winery.
Biltmore’s winery came about after William A.V. Cecil, Vanderbilt’s grandson, planted grapes on the property in 1971. Disappointed with his first vintage, he brought a sixth-generation winemaker from France to North Carolina. In 1983, Cecil began construction on the Biltmore Estate Winery, which he declared “the most historic event since my grandfather had opened his estate to his family on Christmas Day 90 years earlier.” Today, it spans 94 acres, sells 170,000 cases of wine and sees 650,000 visitors annually.
7. Frommer’s, a renowned travel guidebook published for more than 50 years, says to allow a minimum of five hours to explore the house.
The Biltmore House spans more than four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. It was – and still is – America’s largest home with 250 rooms, ranging from the glass-roofed winter garden to the banquet hall and its 70-foot ceiling to the vast library, home to Vanderbilt’s 23,000-volume book collection.
“At first glance, people are simply amazed by the large scale of the house,” Poupore says. He highly recommends the 60-minute behind-the-scenes Architect’s Tour, which allows guests to get a closer look at the design of Biltmore House by touring areas not on the regular house visit, including rooftops and balconies.
Even after working there for 14 years, Poupore continues to make new discoveries.“It never gets boring, because the house continues to give back,” he says. “I’ll walk through on any given day and see some detail I’ve never noticed before.”
See more: These Three Historic North Carolina Homes Are Architectural Masterpieces
If You Go
Visitors have been invited to step inside this architectural masterpiece since it first opened to the public in 1930 with the hope of increasing tourism to the area during the Depression. Today, admission includes a self-guided visit to Biltmore House, access to historic gardens, admission to the exhibition “The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad,” and a free wine tasting and guided winery tour.
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These are really great images of the Biltmore. Where did they come from?
the biltmore
*claps*
They are from the talented photography team at Journal Communications Inc. in Franklin, Tenn.
This is great for my project thank you
This place is…just…Awesome
this place is big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats what she said!
i love this house so much.
yes it is because I live there
um.. no you dont sorry.
hi every one
i love this house so much that i would marry it.
Biltmore house is huge and very pretty
A must see ! If you only go once, its worth the price ! Theres nothing else in this country like this place. Its as close to a castle as youll find in the usa. Ive been there many times.
how much to visit?
Its awe inspiring grandure.
It’s a big house
Please name the 3 French homes used to design the Biltmore house.
I have been there only once! It’s amazing! I want to visit at Christmas!!!!
WHile on vacation My Husband thought it was crazy to go 300 miles out of the way to see a house. He loved it even more than I . We were both in awe. I tell everyone I know if you ever get close to this go.
I would like to know who is The richest Family back in 17 hundreds. was it the Vanderbilts or The Beltmore Homes or Estates. The Biggest and Grandest.
The house was built beginning 1895. It wasn’t there in the 17th century.
I would like to know the date they started to build the Baltimore gardens
this place is awesome
Just visited the Biltmore estate it was an awesome visit for anyone who loves history. George was a ‘bad boy” he enjoyed life. Now I know why Anderson Cooper is not scared to say what he wants (all in fun). I had a ball. The garden the winery…WOW!
I beleive that you should be able to buy a discounted ticket for the gardens only. Having arrived from the UK on the coldest day of the year, a walk around the house took perhaps 2-3 hours however the windchill today prevented me my wife and her family from walking around the gardens. I would like to return however my understanding is that the house tour would be the same so I would like to return just to walk the garden area but the overall cost which would include the house making it cost prohibitive to return. If i could buy tickets just for the outside areas I would return kind regards stephen
That place suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me guess….. ‘too expensive for you’. Or….’all that money spent on one house’. Typical. If you don’t like it, don’t go back.
You must just detest history. Or maybe there are other underlying reasons you didn’t enjoy it. I’m wondering how old you are. You talk like you’re 15
I LOVED IT…. NICE
it was so bad my dad left
Where was Cornelia’s bedroom? It only talks about the room where she was born
You must just detest history. Or maybe there are other underlying reasons you didn’t enjoy it. I’m wondering how old you are. You talk like you’re 15
I like them
I really enjoy going there at Christmas time. All the decorations were beautiful. We returned in the spring and loved all the flowers in the garden. I half to say the money I paid was worth it. I know it takes a lot to keep this place up and in season for us to enjoy. I only wish that some of the Christmas decorations in the gift shop wasn’t so expensive.
Thanks for your comment, Rebecca. We love going here in Christmas too, and you can look for a story in our winter issue about the Biltmore during the holidays!
Jessy Yancey
managing editor
NC Field & Family
anyone else looking at this website in 2020 because of school-
I’m studying because I am studying for a book.
*I’m studying biltmore because I’m reading a book*
weird
[…] Behind the Biltmore Estate: 7 Things You Didn't Know About … […]
[…] railroad spur was even built just to transport building supplies to the construction site. More than 1,000 workers were hired to build the great […]
[…] … Biltmore house is huge and very pretty. Reply. Thomas k. Nix. January 7, 2016 at 6:09 am. A must see ! If you only go once, its worth the price … read more […]
What does 3 Farms mean l have a milk grate stamped on it then Biltmore ? It’s Wood and Galvanized. Thanks