2009 Biltmore Visit Planner - (Page 5) IMAGINE LIFE IN AN AMERICAN CASTLE Imagine being a young bride returning from your European honeymoon and seeing your new home for the first time: 250-room Biltmore House. That was Edith Vanderbilt’s experience in 1898 after her marriage to George Vanderbilt. Estate workers lined the Approach Road and tossed flowers to welcome the newlyweds to Biltmore, which must have been an imposing sight to the 25-year-old woman. Then imagine hearing from your husband the stories of Biltmore’s construction. How it required nearly six years and the efforts of world-class craftsmen, stonemasons, woodworkers, sculptors, cabinetmakers, and engineers by the hundreds. And how Vanderbilt traveled the world collecting antiques, masterpieces of art, and things he simply liked to furnish his home. Biltmore’s leading lady Bringing a 19th-Century Home to Life Today, your visit to Biltmore House provides a fascinating look into the 1890s and how the Vanderbilts, their guests, and employees lived. With dozens of rooms carefully restored to their original appearance, you can admire superb architecture and priceless treasures while also seeing the servants’ rooms, kitchens, and laundry that kept the great house operating. Picture yourself descending the 102 steps of the Grand Staircase to welcome your guests. Consider Biltmore’s amenities as the wonders they were at the time: hot water, electricity, central heat, and elevators. Marvel at the variety of art that enhances every room: tapestries in damask, silk, and brocade; sculptures of porcelain, bronze, ivory, and marble; and original paintings by Renoir, Sargent, and Whistler. Explore the Basement hallways to see how your 1890s counterparts passed the time—the indoor swimming pool, Halloween Room, and bowling lanes. Take a guided tour to the attic and rooftop balconies where the views alone will leave you breathless. And let your imagination wander as you dream of what life here was like. From the start, Biltmore has inspired awe in all who traveled through its gates. It remains authentic to George Vanderbilt’s vision of a selfsupporting working estate where preservation is the mission. Your visit contributes to restoration and preservation projects that inspire the imaginations of generations. First and foremost, Biltmore House is a family home and legacy, one century and four generations in the making. 800-411-3807 • BILTMORE.COM 5 An accomplished young woman when she married the most sought-after bachelor in the country, Edith Vanderbilt embraced her role as mistress of Biltmore. She took gifts to new mothers living on the estate. She shopped for Christmas presents for employees and their families; decades later, people recalled the oranges they received from her. In 1914, George Vanderbilt died suddenly, leaving Edith as a 41-year-old widow with a teenage daughter and hundreds of people dependent upon her for their livelihood. She gracefully met all challenges, managing the estate’s agriculture programs, becoming the first woman president of the N.C. State Fair, and championing adult literacy efforts. Biltmore’s prosperity is a legacy of her leadership and dedication. http://www.BILTMORE.COM
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