The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is one of the most iconic homes in America. The 250-room mansion was built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895. It was designed in the Châteauesque style by Richard Morris Hunt and is considered one of the finest examples of 19th-century American architecture. The estate covers 8,000 acres (32 km²) and includes a winery, a greenhouse, gardens, and a forest that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. In 1895, at the time of its completion, it was the largest privately owned house in the United States.
The property is open to visitors year-round on a regular basis but is closed for special events such as weddings and other private functions. Visitors can experience rooms decorated with original furnishings from the Vanderbilt era or take guided tours through rooms that are still furnished as they were when George Vanderbilt lived there.
George Vanderbilt inherited $5 million from his father’s estate when he turned 21 years old in 1882. He created his own fortune as an investor in railroads during the Gilded Age of American industrialism before he died suddenly in 1914 at age 64 while traveling aboard his yacht near Newport News Shipyard in Virginia.
It’s a beautiful estate with an amazing history, and it’s the largest privately owned home in America. Here are some interesting facts about this iconic estate:
1) The Biltmore Estate is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it’s set on over 8,000 acres.
2) The house was built by George W. Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. He was a very wealthy man who made his fortune in railroads, so he had plenty of resources at his disposal for building such an impressive home.
3) The estate is known for its massive size—it has 250 rooms! That’s almost more rooms than many hotels have total!
4) The Biltmore Estate is open year-round (except holidays), and there are lots of things you can do there besides just touring the house itself (like hiking or horseback riding).
5) The grounds also contain gardens with over 10,000 different kinds of plants—now that’s impressive!
