Quick History of Biltmore
• Located in Asheville, N.C., Biltmore was the vision of George Washington Vanderbilt III. It is a National Historic Landmark.
• Biltmore welcomes more than 1 million guests each year, and is one of North Carolina’s most visited attractions.
• Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Biltmore House – America’s largest privately owned home – is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, and houses the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. It measures approximately 175,000 square foot, or – roughly – the size of four football fields stacked on top of one another.
• Construction of Biltmore House began in 1889. It took six years and 1,000 workers to build it. It officially opened to Vanderbilt’s friends and family on Christmas Eve 1895. This was his primary residence, and for the first three years he lived in the house he was a bachelor.
• George Vanderbilt married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in 1898. The couple had one child, Cornelia Vanderbilt.
• The family was known for their gracious hospitality, and opened their home to friends and family for long, extended stays. George and Edith were consummate hosts, and planned every aspect of their guests’ visits, from menu planning to excursions out on the property to lavish parties and events.
• In 1914, George Vanderbilt passed away at age 51. He left behind the sprawling estate and Biltmore House to his widow Edith. She and daughter Cornelia continued to live in the house for many years.
• In 1924, Cornelia Vanderbilt married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil. The couple had two sons. They lived in Biltmore House.
• In 1930, the Cecils opened Biltmore House to limited public tours for the first time. Biltmore has been open to the public ever since.
• Descendants of George Vanderbilt continue to own and operate Biltmore to this day.
• Today, Biltmore estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Original acreage of the estate was around 125,000 acres.
• Today, Biltmore includes Antler Hill Village, which features the award-winning Winery and Antler Hill Farm; the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate; Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate; Equestrian Center; numerous restaurants; event and meeting venues; and Biltmore For Your Home, the company’s licensed products division.
