The Biltmore Estate

On Wednesday, we drove down to Asheville to visit the Biltmore Estate. It is (or at least used to be) the largest home in America with 255 rooms (and 43 bathrooms). Only a fraction of the home is on display, but it is a fabulous glimpse into the Gilded Age. The house was built by the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the original American "Robber Barons." Vanderbilt made his money in shipping and more famously by owning the New York Central Railroad. His grandson made regular visits to the Asheville area and decided to build a home there. The Biltmore Estate is still owned by the family (their last name is now Cecil because the grandson had no male descendants). The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York. The estate covers 8,000 acres and is still a working farm.

Some pictures of the front of the building.

A view of the hills behind the house.

Some of the grounds:

Some family pictures

We also saw some beautiful vistas on the return trip.