Inside Biltmore

I read somewhere before taking our trip to the Biltmore that wearing fancier clothing was the standard for evening tours. However, looking back I recognize that the tours expecting a higher level of dress included private tours. Ours was not.

The website suggested arriving 45 minutes early, so we did. Instead of wearing the dress I brought for the occasion, I opted for warmth, and that proved to be the better decision. The strong winds cut to your core, and the cold only left my body after I stood in a warm shower.

Because we spent the day touring the grounds, we knew where to park (Lot B). Luminaries lined the path to the vibrant home, and the placed just shone with breathtaking beauty.

Arriving earlier than expected, we continued through security hoping they’d give us relief from the biting wind. Thankfully they did.

The Conservatory

We entered the home by walking up a few stairs then like cattle, we were directed to the entrance hall. We picked up our audio guide and had the tickets scanned. Hundreds of people made their way through the entrance then listened to the beautiful live music being performed in the glass roofed Conservatory. (Are you thinking Mrs. Peacock in the Conservatory with the wrench? I was, but the game of Clue was nowhere to be found.)

The Conservatory seemed to be the focal point to the main level as most of the rooms spilled out into the conservatory. Had I stayed as a guest at Biltmore, I think it would have been one of my favorite rooms.

Biltmore has created an audio tour on YouTube, so should you desire a tour sans the actual Estate, please enjoy. Our tour included the main level, the upstairs, and the basement area. Other tours offer other areas.

The Billiard Room

The first room we entered after the Conservatory had two lovely billiard tables and many sitting areas for guests to enjoy. Its location allowed guests to await dinner with plenty of entertainment. Of course, post dinner events likely occurred too.

The Formal Dining Room aka Banquet Hall

Dining at a 40 foot table under a 70 foot ceiling must have left people in awe. A hidden servant door allowed food to arrive hot from the kitchen below. I’d have liked to see the path the servants took as I imagine climbing stairs to serve food could have been quite the challenge.

In addition to the table, three fireplaces provided warmth for diners. A 1916 Skinner Pipe organ adorns the room but was not installed until 1998. The original organ had been donated to All Souls Episcopal Church by George Vanderbilt, so the organ loft had remained empty for nearly a century.

The Breakfast Room

The breakfast room’s smaller space felt much more intimate than the Banquet Hall. Imagine the family gathering here for informal meals and gatherings. While we did not witness this at night, the large windows provide sweeping views of the mountains. I can only imagine how starting the day amongst an incredible view would feel.

Morning Salon and Music Room

Several rooms remained unfinished by the time of George Vanderbilt’s death. The morning salon, just off the Breakfast Room, and the nearby music room comprise two of those rooms. Today, both are complete. The Morning Salon displays several priceless Monet paintings. Vanderbilt loved art, and visitors today can admire many different pieces of art.

The Music Room has ties to World War II as it housed 62 paintings and 17 sculptures from the National Gallery of Art. Having a large, empty room that could be fortified and protected must have given the U.S. a sense f security. Eventually things returned to normal, and in 1976 the room finally received the finishings it deserved.

The Library

Besides the Conservatory, the library must be my favorite room. Not only are there over 10,000 books, but a spiral staircase leads to the guest rooms, allowing visitors who wake in the middle of the night to quietly walk down and find something to help them sleep.

George Vanderbilt also found this room to be his sanctuary. He kept journals entitled “Books I Have Read” with a final total of 3,159 books read. From 1875 to 1914, George averaged 81 books a year!

The Tapestry Room

The Tapestry Room holds the record for longest room in Biltmore. The sizable 90 foot room holds Flemish tapestries depicting “The Triumph of the Seven Virtues.” Each of the three tapestries were woven with silk between 1525 and 1535. Due to the delicate nature of the tapestries, lights remain low to protect these amazing works of art.

The Grand Staircase

Walking up the staircase provides different vantage points from the house. Several times I would stop to find what my eyes could see. I loved looking out the windows with all the decorations outside, and I reveled in the opportunity to gaze toward the rest of the Estate.

The Second Floor Living Hall

This room opens up after you’ve climbed the Grand Staircase. Many notable paintings hang here including: The Waltz by Anders Zorn, Frederick Law Olmsted and Richard Morris Hunt (landscape artist and architect) by John Singer Sargent, and The Vanderbilt Family by Giovanni Boldini.

Guests and family members gathered here to prepare for dinner or just to socialize. Need something to read? There’s a hidden doorway that leads to the library below.

George Vanderbilt Bedroom

Should you wish to stay up all night, this is the room for you. As we stood inside George’s bedroom, I couldn’t help but notice the continuous rattling of the balcony door. Remember when I mentioned the wind? This room amplified it. I imagine the doors held firm in George’s day, but our visit didn’t experience the solitude.

Additionally, 41 prints from his personal collection adorned the walls. The room has its own bathroom, and George always had a servant waiting to provide anything he would need.

Oak Sitting Room

George and Edith used this room for more private time. Their head housekeeper would meet with the couple here to plan the daily activities. Typical to the time period, Edith and George kept separate bedrooms, and the Oak Sitting Room provided the pass thru for them.

I admired the furniture in particular. The arms of the chairs and couches reclined to provide more comfortable seating for someone lingering here.

Edith Vanderbilt Bedroom

Edith’s oval shaped room has a vibrant, feminine touch with yellow lampas silk walls surrounding the living space. You could tell the attention to detail mattered, and the room felt joyful.

Louis XV Suite

Nearby, the Louis XV suite, along with the Damask Room, Claude Room, and Tyrolean Chimney Room form the Louis XV suite. Edith gave birth to their only child, Cornelia, in the Louis XV room. Once she married and began to give birth, her two sons also made their great entrance here. This space proved its importance to the family.

Basement Bound

Tracy and I took a different set of stairs and descended to the home’s entertainment area. The hallways intrigued me as they also helped usher the servants upstairs and downstairs.

The Halloween Room

It’s funny that the room dubbed the Halloween Room actually has nothing to do with the holiday. The research on this room is on-going, but the current theory includes a Russian Cabaret, New Year’s, and an amazing 100 person party. The paintings took three weeks to create (taken from a Russian Cabaret performing set). Then on December 30, 1925 Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and her husband John hosted a Bohemian ball. Written reports from guests raved about the amazing event. I definitely thought this room provided a glimpse into the fun had by the family.

A Bowling Alley, A Pool, and a Gym

Exercise likely happened with walks on the 96,000 acres of property. However, the family also had the option to find indoor options as well.

Often the family and guests would choose to bowl. Servants would stand by the pins, ready to set them up when needed. Bowlers would hurl their bowling ball down one of two lanes with the hope of a strike.

Exiting and heading down the hallway, guests found personal dressing rooms. Bathrooms, showers, toiletries, and towels catered to their every needs. Should they want to lift a few weights, that option was available as well.

As for the swimming pool, 70,000 gallons of water were used to fill it. The pool had heat and lighting, but it lacked a filtration system. This meant draining and cleaning the pool every three days. Did I say 70,000 gallons of water…EVERY…THREE…DAYS??? Yikes! I imagine the pool was filled only when wanted, so hopefully the cleaning process and excessive use of water only occurred occasionally.

Kitchen

Food prep areas took multiple rooms and many, many staff. The servants had rooms near the kitchen area, so they could meet the demands of the family at any time. In addition to kitchen space, the laundry space also filled multiple rooms in the basement. Walking through these spaces, I wondered exactly how the staff was able to pull off such spectacular service. However, the Vanderbilts always treated the workers well, so I imagine everyone yearned to do their best.

By the time Tracy and I concluded our tour, exhaustion took over. We saw several more spaces, but I failed to photograph them. From what I’ve read, different areas open at different times, so possibly another visit could yield another opportunity to continue exploring the Largest Home in America.