The Biltmore House, built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895, is the largest privately owned house in the United States. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, the 250-room French Renaissance château has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The house, which spans 175,000 square feet, is part of the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate and is known for its opulent architecture and interior design, showcasing Vanderbilt's diverse tastes and extensive art collection.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Total area | 8,000 acres |
House size | 175,000 sq ft |
Number of rooms | 250 |
Number of bedrooms | 33-35 |
Number of bathrooms | 43 |
Number of fireplaces | 65 |
What You'll Learn
The Biltmore House has 35 bedrooms
The Biltmore House, a 250-room French Renaissance château, has 35 bedrooms. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States, spanning 175,000 square feet, or more than four acres of floor space. The house was built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II, who was a member of one of America's wealthiest and best-known families. Vanderbilt was a grandson of Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, a famed shipping entrepreneur and industrialist.
Vanderbilt fell in love with Asheville, North Carolina, and decided to build a summer home there, which he called his "little mountain escape". He hired architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the house in the Châteauesque style, inspired by French Renaissance châteaux. The house has four acres of floor space and 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms for family and guests, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens, and novelties such as an electric Otis elevator, forced-air heating, centrally controlled clocks, fire alarms, and a call bell system.
The Biltmore House is a true marvel of architecture and craftsmanship, with its four acres of floor space surrounded by stunning gardens and grounds. The construction of the house was a massive undertaking, requiring the labour of about 1,000 workers and 60 stonemasons. Even after six years of construction, the house was not completely finished when it was first opened to family and friends on Christmas Eve in 1895. The house was decorated and full of festivity, with Vanderbilt's friends and family enjoying leisure and country pursuits.
The Biltmore House has been a family home, a historic house museum, and a tourist attraction. It was opened to the public in 1930 by Vanderbilt's daughter, Cornelia, and her husband, John Cecil, in an attempt to increase local tourism during the Great Depression. The house closed during World War II but reopened after the war and has since become a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. Today, the Biltmore Estate, which covers approximately 8,000 acres, offers a variety of activities and attractions, including outdoor adventures, behind-the-scenes tours, exhibitions, events, restaurants, shopping, and an award-winning winery.
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43 bathrooms
The Biltmore House, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The house was built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II, who was a member of one of America's wealthiest families. The house has 4 acres of floor space and 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.
The sheer number of bathrooms in the Biltmore House is a reflection of the grand scale and luxury of the home. With 43 bathrooms, the house offered ample facilities for the family, their guests, and the numerous servants who lived and worked there. The bathrooms would have been a showcase of modern plumbing and sanitation, with fixtures and fittings that reflected the elegance and sophistication of the Gilded Age.
While the exact details of each bathroom may vary, we can imagine them to be spacious and well-appointed, featuring luxurious fixtures and finishes. Some may have had clawfoot tubs, ornate washbasins, and gilded mirrors, while others could have had more modest fixtures, serving the needs of the staff or those located in less prominent areas of the house. The design and decor of the bathrooms would have been carefully considered, incorporating the latest innovations and trends of the time.
The presence of 43 bathrooms in the Biltmore House also highlights the advanced plumbing and sanitation systems that were incorporated into the home's design. At a time when indoor plumbing was still a novelty, the house was equipped with the most modern conveniences, including forced-air heating, centrally controlled clocks, fire alarms, and a call bell system. The bathrooms would have been well-supplied with hot and cold running water, and may have even featured early innovations in bathroom technology, such as flush toilets or shower systems.
The bathrooms in the Biltmore House, therefore, represent not only the grandeur and opulence of the Gilded Age but also the advancements in sanitation and plumbing technology that were taking place during this period. They showcase the attention to detail, the desire for modern conveniences, and the high standard of living enjoyed by the Vanderbilt family and their guests.
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65 fireplaces
The Biltmore House, a 250-room French Renaissance château, is the largest privately owned home in the United States. It was built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II and is a true marvel, spanning 175,000 square feet, or more than four acres of floor space. The house features 65 fireplaces, along with 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms.
The fireplaces are a prominent feature of the house, with at least one in almost every room. The Banquet Hall, the largest room in the house, boasts a triple fireplace that spans one end of the hall. It is a striking feature, with a massive size that complements the grand scale of the room. The fireplaces provided a source of warmth and comfort during the colder months, especially in the bedrooms, ensuring a cosy atmosphere for the occupants.
The fireplaces also served as decorative elements, with intricate designs and carvings that added to the beauty and elegance of the rooms. The variety of fireplace styles throughout the house showcases the attention to detail and craftsmanship that went into their creation. Some fireplaces, like the one in the two-story library, were designed by renowned artists, such as the black marble fireplace crafted by Austrian artist Karl Bitter.
The 65 fireplaces also highlight the technological advancements of the time. The Biltmore House had electricity from the start, and the fireplaces were designed to utilise this innovation. They were equipped with forced-air heating, allowing for efficient and effective heating throughout the entire house. This combination of aesthetics and functionality showcases the forward-thinking and attention to detail that went into the design and construction of the Biltmore House.
The fireplaces contribute to the overall grandeur and opulence of the Biltmore House. With their elegant designs and strategic placement, they enhance the beauty of the rooms and provide a sense of warmth and hospitality. The fireplaces serve as a reminder of the lavish lifestyle and sophisticated tastes of George Vanderbilt and his family.
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250 rooms in total
The Biltmore House, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest privately owned home in the United States. It was built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II, who was inspired to construct a summer house in the area due to its captivating scenery and climate.
Vanderbilt's 250-room French Renaissance château is a true architectural marvel, spanning 175,000 square feet, which amounts to more than four acres of floor space. This massive structure boasts 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The house was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, who modelled it after the richly ornamented style of the French Renaissance. The exterior features a four-story stone façade, while the interior showcases a stunning array of art, furniture, and décor acquired by Vanderbilt during his travels.
The Banquet Hall is the largest room in the house, boasting a 70-foot-high ceiling, a triple fireplace, and a 1916 Skinner pipe organ. The house also features a two-story library, which is a guest favourite, containing approximately 10,000 books from Vanderbilt's extensive collection. The Winter Garden, with its stone archways and multifaceted glass ceiling, is another notable space. The house is filled with priceless objects, including 16th-century tapestries, paintings by renowned artists, and antique furnishings.
The Biltmore House is not just a residence but also a testament to Vanderbilt's vision and taste. It stands as a symbol of the Gilded Age, a time of opulence and grandeur. The house took six years to complete, employing over 1,000 workers, and even after its opening in 1895, work continued for years. Today, the Biltmore Estate welcomes visitors from all over the world, offering them a glimpse into the splendour and history of this magnificent home.
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The fourth floor was for female servants
The Biltmore House, nestled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, boasts 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The house was built by George Washington Vanderbilt, the grandson of famed industrialist Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, and opened to friends and family on Christmas Eve, 1895.
The fourth floor of the Biltmore House was dedicated to the female servants' quarters, with 21 bedrooms for the maids. Male under-butlers and houseboys were quartered separately to discourage fraternisation between the sexes. The female servants' bedrooms were relatively plain but comfortable, with fireplaces, windows offering beautiful views of the property, and brass hooks and built-in shelves for clothing storage. The rooms were furnished with iron bedsteads, washstands, chestnut bedside tables, and chests of drawers or oak furniture suites.
The female servants' daily routine began early in the morning, around 6 am, and continued until 9 pm, with a couple of hours of free time in the afternoon. They were allowed one day off per week and half of every other Sunday. During their scarce free time, the servants would spend time in the servants' hall, located centrally on the fourth floor. This space served a dual purpose: a place to relax and socialise, and an area to mend household linens and their uniforms. It was furnished simply but comfortably, with chairs, tables, bookshelves, oil lamps, a rug, and framed artwork.
The female servants' living quarters also included a bathroom with indoor plumbing, a luxury in early 20th-century western North Carolina. The bathroom had hot and cold running water, another modern convenience for the time. The standard of living for the servants at Biltmore House was notably higher than what they might have experienced elsewhere.
The fourth floor also included a cedar-lined closet for storing ultra-fine linens. Only the housekeeper had the key to this closet, and she was responsible for keeping a careful inventory of the expensive, intricately embroidered damask linens. The housekeeper's role was significant, as she was in charge of the household staff, including the male butlers who headed grand British homes.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 35 bedrooms in the Biltmore House.
Yes, George Vanderbilt's bedroom is notable for its gold-gilded design. Additionally, the Louis XV-style bedroom is where Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt, George and Edith Vanderbilt's only child, was born in 1900.
The Biltmore House has 250 rooms in total, including 35 bedrooms for family and guests, and additional bedrooms for staff. The fourth floor has 21 bedrooms that were inhabited by housemaids, laundresses, and other female servants. Male servants resided in rooms above the stable and complex.
The construction of the Biltmore House was a massive undertaking that required the labour of about 1,000 workers and 60 stonemasons.