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The Biltmore House and Garden Tour

Several weeks ago, my wife and I spent several nights in Asheville. Before the visit to Asheville, several people recommended that we spend at least half a day touring the Biltmore Museum. Therefore, we took the visit, and I'd highly recommend this tour. Please see below some of the reasons why I recommend this tour.


George Vanderbilt visited the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Western North Carolina, in 1888. He quickly fell in love with the area and began purchasing land. Construction started a year later and continued until 1897. George moved into the Biltmore House in 1895. The Biltmore House is a 250-room mansion, spanning over 175,000 square feet.


The architect Richard Morris Hunt, a close friend of George, designed “America’s largest home” in the French Renaissance style. Today, the Biltmore House is a museum just outside of Asheville, North Carolina.


The gardens west of the house span 8,000 acres and include exquisite greenery, an early 1900s conservatory, a small lake, and 250 varieties of roses to explore. Frederick Law Olmsted (best known for his Central Park in New York City) designed the gardens.


The Biltmore House is a 250-room mansion, spanning over 175,000 square feet. Architect Richard Morris Hunt designed this former residence of George and Edith Vanderbilt before the turn of the 20th Century. Today, the Biltmore House is a museum just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. The gardens west of the house span 8,000 acres and include exquisite gardens, an early 1900s conservatory, and 250 varieties of roses to explore. Frederick Law Olmsted (best known for his Central Park in New York City) designed the gardens. Biltmore House at night. The billiards room was used for entertainment, mostly among men. A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests. Lovely plants cover the atrium area. A very comfortable and elegant sitting room for residents and guests. After traveling to the Asheville area in 1888, George Vanderbilt eventually built his dream castle. The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore. The cookware for the staff. Storage room for extra pottery and cookware. One of the upstairs bathrooms. Another entertaining area, including a piano. A very comfortable seating area after dinner. In inclement weather, there were three fireplaces nearby. A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well. A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days. Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Wild turkeys were commonplace, and very little other wildlife was seen during our tour.
Biltmore House at night.
The billiards room was used for entertainment, mostly among men.
The billiards room was used for entertainment, mostly among men.
A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests.
A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests.
The billiards room for entertainment, mostly among men. A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests. Lovely plants cover the atrium area. After traveling to the Asheville area in 1888, George Vanderbilt eventually built his dream castle. The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore. The cookware for the staff. One atrium as you enter the Biltmore. One of the upstairs bathrooms. Another entertaining area, including a piano. A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well. A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days. Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Wild turkeys were commonplace, and very little other wildlife was seen during our tour.
Lovely plants cover the atrium area.
The billiards room was used for entertainment, mostly among men. A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests. Lovely plants cover the atrium area. A very comfortable and elegant sitting room for residents and guests. After traveling to the Asheville area in 1888, George Vanderbilt eventually built his dream castle. The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore. The cookware for the staff. One of the upstairs bathrooms. Another entertaining area, including a piano. A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well. A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days. Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens. A very comfortable seating area after dinner. In inclement weather, there were three fireplaces nearby. Storage room for extra pottery and cookware. Wild turkeys were commonplace, and very little other wildlife was seen during our tour.
A very comfortable and elegant sitting room for residents and guests.
The billiards room for entertainment, mostly among men. A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests. After traveling to the Asheville area in 1888, George Vanderbilt eventually built his dream castle. The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore. The cookware for the staff. One atrium as you enter the Biltmore. One of the upstairs bathrooms. Another entertaining area, including a piano. A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well. A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days. Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Wild turkeys were commonplace, and very little other wildlife was seen during our tour.
After traveling to the Asheville area in 1888, George Vanderbilt eventually built his dream castle.
The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore.
The less comfortable dining room for staff is located in the lower level of the Biltmore.
The cookware for the staff.
The cookware for the staff.
Storage room for extra pottery and cookware.
Storage room for extra pottery and cookware.
One of the upstairs bathrooms.
One of the upstairs bathrooms.
Another entertaining area, including a piano.
Another entertaining area, including a piano.
A very comfortable seating area after dinner. In inclement weather, there were three fireplaces nearby.
A very comfortable seating area after dinner. In inclement weather, there were three fireplaces nearby.
A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive.
A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. It is no longer in use.
George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well.
George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was essential for living well.
A bowling alley which required manual pin setting.
A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days.
Part of the large Biltmore Gardens.
Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. The reflection in the water adds a unique perspective.
Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens.
Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens.
The billiards room for entertainment, mostly among men. A fancy dining room was often used to entertain guests. The less comfortable dining room of the staff, deep in the Biltmore. The cookware for the staff. One atrium as you enter the Biltmore. One of the upstairs bathrooms. Another entertaining area, including a piano. A pool built inside the Biltmore to fill up the pool was very labor-intensive. George Vanderbilt believed that physical fitness was a crucial part of living well. A bowling alley that required manual pin setting. Sometimes, it was a dangerous job to do pin setting in those days. Part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Bamboo trees were part of the large Biltmore Gardens. Wild turkeys were commonplace, very little other wildlife seen during our tour.
Wild turkeys were abundant, although very little other wildlife was observed during our tour.

The Biltmore House and Garden Tour.

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About Me
Kevin Schwarm in Montreal
Kevin Schwarm
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Kevin Schwarm

I'm a photographer, observer, writer, traveler with a free spirit perspective on life, travel, work, customer service & the print medium. 

 

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