2009 Biltmore Visit Planner - (Page 3) Who needs a 250-room house? Although George Vanderbilt was a bachelor when he opened Biltmore House in 1895, he intended his estate in Asheville, North Carolina, to be an escape for family and friends. His 1898 marriage to Edith Stuyvesant Dresser and the birth of their daughter Cornelia in 1900 added to Biltmore’s lively atmosphere. A legacy of preservation continues When you visit Biltmore and its 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you sense why the Vanderbilts and their friends loved this remarkable place. The century-old grounds have matured into what landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted originally envisioned. Graceful gardens, a glass Conservatory, and rolling hills complement the house inspired by French châteaux visited by Vanderbilt and his mentor, architect Richard Morris Hunt. The Damask Room, named for its sumptuous silk damask draperies, features lovely views of the grounds and mountains beyond. An invitation from the Vanderbilts promised the ultimate in hospitality. Guests visited for weeks and, depending upon the season, enjoyed promenades in the gardens, lawn games, and all types of outdoor activities. Evenings featured exquisite dining in the Banquet Hall, followed by entertainment and vivacious conversation. Vanderbilt furnished Biltmore House with masterpieces of art and rare antiques he collected during world travels, but he never considered it a museum. It was a family home where the dinner table hosted lively discussions, romances blossomed, and children played hide and seek—a daunting game in 250 rooms! While Biltmore House and gardens remain as grand as when the family lived here, other aspects of the estate have changed, beginning in 1930 when Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and her husband opened its doors to the public. The dairy was renovated into America’s most-visited winery, featuring award-winning wines crafted on the estate. One barn was remodeled into an enchanting restaurant, while another has become the centerpiece of the estate’s agricultural heritage. Outdoor activities entice you to enjoy the property like a guest of the Vanderbilts, from horseback rides to going off-road in a Land Rover. Thanks to your admission ticket and other purchases, Vanderbilt’s descendants are continuing the ongoing preservation and legacy of hospitality that George Vanderbilt began. The Claude Room, named for the French painter Claude Gelleé—one of Vanderbilt’s favorite artists—was restored using scraps of wallpaper found behind door cornices. The wallpaper was hand printed in France by the original firm. Visit biltmore.com for updates on our exciting preservation project. 800-411-3807 • BILTMORE.COM 3 http://www.biltmore.com http://www.BILTMORE.COM
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