Estate History
What was George Washington Vanderbilt II’s vision for building Biltmore, and how does the legacy continue to live on today? Find out below.
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1860
NOW
1862
George Vanderbilt is born in Staten Island.
As a grandson of famed industrialist and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt, George takes his place among one of America’s best-known families.
1887-1888
George Vanderbilt first visits Asheville, North Carolina.
George Vanderbilt first visits Asheville, North Carolina in 1887. He considers the area as a possible location for his country home.
A second visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains with his mother in 1888 continues to spark Vanderbilt’s imagination. He begins purchasing land for what will become Biltmore.
1889
Construction of Biltmore House begins.
Vanderbilt’s 250-room French Renaissance chateau is a true marvel, the largest undertaking in residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen comes together to create America’s premier home and the environmental wonderland that surrounds it.
1895
Vanderbilt officially opens Biltmore to friends and family.
On Christmas Eve, the country retreat George Vanderbilt has spent so long planning is marvelously decorated and full of festivity. The finished home contains over four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.
1898
George Vanderbilt marries Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in Paris.
Edith is a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant, the first governor of Dutch colonial New York. After honeymooning in Italy, Edith and George return to live at Biltmore.
1900
Cornelia Vanderbilt is born at Biltmore.
George and Edith’s only child is born on the evening of August 22 in the Louis XV Room. It is a celebrity birth, even by modern standards.
1900
Construction of the Main Dairy and Horse Barn begins.
The Horse Barn is a thriving social and work center for the families who farmed Biltmore, and the agricultural heart of the estate. It remains a unique connection to the estate’s past.
1914
George Vanderbilt passes away at the age of 51.
Vanderbilt is buried in the Vanderbilt family mausoleum on Staten Island. He leaves a legacy of philanthropy, which Edith continues, selling approximately 87,000 acres of the estate to the United States Forest Service for less than $5 an acre.
1924
Cornelia Vanderbilt marries the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil.
The Cecils are wed at All Souls Church in Biltmore Village, with Edith Vanderbilt escorting her daughter.
1925
George Vanderbilt's first grandson is born.
John and Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil’s first son, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, is born at the estate.
1928
The Cecils welcome their second son.
John and Cornelia’s second son, William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, is born in the Louis XV Room where she herself was born.
1930
Cornelia and John Cecil open Biltmore House to the public.
The Cecils respond to requests to increase area tourism during the Depression, and to generate income to preserve the estate.
1942
Biltmore House stores art during World War II.
During the war, the house stores priceless works from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
1960
William Cecil returns to Biltmore.
Leaving his banking career, William Cecil joins his brother in managing the estate, focusing on self-sufficiency and preserving the estate’s historic splendor.
1971
William Cecil plants his first vines at Biltmore.
Not satisfied with his first bottling, Mr. Cecil travels to France and brings back sixth-generation winemaster Philippe Jourdain to be Biltmore’s first winemaker.
1983
The Biltmore Estate Wine Company is established.
Construction begins on a new winery in what had been the estate’s dairy. Mr. Cecil proclaims that it is “the most historic event since my grandfather had opened his estate to his family on Christmas Day ninety years earlier.” The winery opens to guests in 1985.
2001
The Inn on Biltmore Estate® opens.
Vanderbilt’s initial plans in 1900 to create an inn never materialized in his lifetime. The idea finally becomes a reality with The Inn on Biltmore Estate, offering guests a personal taste of Vanderbilt hospitality.
2010
Antler Hill Village opens.
Antler Hill Village expands Biltmore’s legacy of entertainment and hospitality for a new generation, with a Vanderbilt exhibition and new opportunities for shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.
2012
Biltmore is honored for environmental stewardship.
The Asheville GreenWorks Hall of Fame Award is presented to Biltmore for its sustainability initiatives, including a new solar array and a tree protection project.
2015
Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate® opens.
A casual hotel is built in Antler Hill Village to serve more overnight guests who wish to experience Vanderbilt-inspired hospitality.
