If you have the ability to travel around this great country of ours, you can be treated to some spectacular sites rich with history. Our roots, while not as deep as countries abroad there are places to visit like battlefields, museums and homes of famous Americans that will deepen your understanding of our history. One of the most famous homes in America, and a stop you should definitely make in your travels is the Biltmore estate located in Asheville, North Carolina. With its sprawling grounds and impressive architecture it is sure to take your breath away.

The Biltmore Estate was constructed for George Vanderbilt and was officially opened in 1895. The Vanderbilt family is one of the most famous families in American history. The Vanderbilts are well known for their philanthropic lifestyle, constantly contributing money to the communities that surround them. When George Vanderbilt requested this home to be built, it would become (at the time) the largest undertaking in American architecture. The Biltmore Estate consists of 4 acres of floor space and includes a total of 250 rooms. The home boasts 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. A home of this magnitude on American soil was unheard of in the late 19th century. The basement of the Biltmore Estate is impressive in and of itself. It has a swimming pool, bowling alley, gymnasium and also contained kitchens and servants’ quarters.

Over a span of six years, an army of workers constructed the massive estate. The home is constructed of over 11 million bricks and the impressive features only continue inside. There is an immense stone staircase that climbs four floors and has 102 steps. Illuminating the staircase is a gigantic iron chandelier suspended from a single rod with 72 light bulbs. After six years of construction, George Vanderbilt opened the home on Christmas Eve in 1895 even though construction was not completed. The entire estate spans 8,000 acres and is self-sufficient. Every year, over 1 million guests grace the Biltmore Estate grounds to take in its beautiful history.

The owners of the Biltmore Estate continue to preserve the home and are continually renovating rooms throughout the home. During these renovations, even more history is revealed from its walls. Recently, four of the home’s guest bedrooms were renovated with painstaking attention to detail. One of the first rooms to be restored was the Damask room, one of the 33 guest bedrooms. The room features silk damask draperies and damask-style wallpaper with a marble fireplace and mahogany furniture. When the restoration began, workers found fragments of the original wallpaper behind door moldings that were removed. A company that specializes in historic wallpaper was able to recreate this original design.

Another guest room that underwent renovation was the Louis XV room which is possibly one of the most beautiful rooms in the entire house. The room was furnished with elaborate decorations including silk and velvet in gold, red and white motifs. The room also has spectacular views of gardens and terraces on the estate grounds. The furniture is all in the style of Louis XV and has a marble mantle, elaborate wall sconces and an enormous gilt mirror that hangs over the fireplace. This room is the epitome of old world luxury and is now open to the public. These are only a few of the rooms featured at the Biltmore Estate so to truly appreciate all it has to offer, it really must be experienced in person.

Author Bio: Keith Smallwood is the president of Creative Energy Exteriors, a leading Richmond home improvement company offering products and services such as Richmond Joyce Sunrooms and replacement window installation. Creative Energy Exteriors can be found online at: CreativeEnergyExteriors.com .

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: Biltmore Estate, The Biltmore Estate, historical estates, historic homes