Biltmore

Figure 1: Biltmore in the fall

Source: TravelChannel Daily Escape

Escape to timeless beauty and

legendary hospitality

Figure 2: Fall Scenery

Source: Yande

Our goal is to take you on a journey through the past, present, and
future of
The Biltmore Estate.

Overview
Introduction to the Estate
Beginning of the Empire
Family History
Construction and Architecture
Present
Future Changes

George Washington Vanderbilt II

1862- Born in Staten Island, New York
Grandson of Industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt
1888- His mother takes him to Blue Ridge Mountains. This is when he
decides that he will build the Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore Estate

1889- Construction begins
French Renaissance Chateau style
Asheville, North Carolina

Figure 3: Biltmore House

Source: Ncpedia Biltmore House

Construction
178,926 square feet of
house- 135, 280 square
foot of living space
1,000+ workers
60 Stonemasons
Overseas buying-trips- to
buy furniture

Figure 7: Construction of Biltmore

Source: Porterbriggs

Architecture Overview
Richard Morris Hunt - architect
Exterior of the home is made of Indiana Limestone
Fit to Mountainous Backdrop- Blue Ridge Mountains
250 Rooms

Figure 8: Richard Morris Hunt.

Source: Prints and Photographs Reading Room

Interior Architecture
Four acres of floor space
35 Bedrooms

Figure 9: Biltmore bowling alley

Source: Tripadvisor

43 Bathrooms
65 fireplaces
2 Electric Elevators
Figure 10: Biltmore indoor pool
Source: Tripadvisor

Bowling Alley

Exterior Architecture
Gargoyles- decorative
Roof tiling and copper flashing - used to include gold family crest
Figure 11: Gargoyles
Source: Dagmi, Jane

Figure 12: Roofing and copper flashing

Source: Dagmi, Jane

The start of an empire

Christmas Eve 1895- opens to family
Biltmore Dairy 1900- start of a thriving business
Vineyard 1971- Wine sold across the U.S.

Figure 4: Biltmore Dairy Farms

Source: Ramble Biltmore Forest

A Legacy Beginning
Largest privately-owned home in the U.S.
Little Mountain Escape - summer home of
Vanderbilts
Bildt-More
Marries-Edith Stuyvesant
1900 Celebrity birth-Only child Cornelia

Figure 5:George Washington Vanderbilt II

Source: Find a Grave George Washington Vanderbilt II

The Vanderbilt Family

Dutch-American Family
Cornelius Vanderbilt
The Gilded Age
Fall of the House of Vanderbilt
2nd Richest Family in U.S. History
Van der Bildt
Figure 6: John Sargent Painting
Source: Biltmore House

Fun facts
Underwater pool lights- unique to era
Estate Gardens and Central Parkdesigned by same person
Ghost- children in the pool
Hidden doors were for the maids to
use

Figure 13: Behind Biltmores Hidden Doors

Source: Joanne OSullivan

Activities at the Biltmore

Fly fishing
Land Rover tours & driving school

Figure 14: Horseback riding

at the Biltmore
Source: AboutTravel

Carriage rides
Hiking or biking
Horseback riding
Guided segway tours

Figure 15:
Rafting at the
Biltmore
Source:
AboutTravel

Annual Events
Biltmore blooms during the spring March- May
Annual easter egg hunt - 5,000 kids each year
Biltmore concert series
Christmas at the Biltmore- 41 decorated trees
6000+ weddings each year

Figure 16: Easter at the Biltmore

Source: AboutJen

Our trip
February 13, 2016
Tiffany, Tania, Kullen, and Mack
Experience

Figure 17::Tiffany and I at Biltmore

Source: Williams, Mack 13 Feb. 2016

Our trip

Figure 18: Dutchess

Source: Worley, Tiffany 13 Feb.
2016

Figure 19: Pride and Prejudice

Source: Worley, Tiffany 13 Feb. 2016

Our trip

Figure 20: Out of Africa

Source: Worley, Tiffany 13 Feb. 2016

Figure 21: Emma

Source: Worley, Tiffany 13 feb. 2016

Figure 22: Howards End

Source: Worley, Tiffany 13 Feb. 2016

Vanderbilts now
First generation Vanderbilt- started losing money
Second generation Vanderbilt- lost most of their fortune
In 1973 Vanderbilts held a family reunion - not one family member
was a millionaire

Expansion of the Empire

School- Vanderbilts gave $1 million endowment
Vineyard -1971
Biltmore Inn, Cottages and hotel-2015

Figure 23: Biltmore Inn

Source: Biltmore

Future Points
Energy/Green Initiatives and Self Sustainability :
Solar energy (Biltmore History)
More composting. Less purchasing. (Hanessey)
Canola fields (Pantas)

Figure 24: Green Initiative

Source: Copycon

Changes over the years

Vanderbilt purchased 2000 acres, died owning 125,000 acres (5.1
Biltmore Estate)
Changes in employee interactivity with guests (Country Living)
Audio guided tours compared to traditional tours (Trip Advisor)
Closed dairy and focused on tourism ( Our State)

The Interview
LeeAnn Donnelly
Public Relations: 7 years
Opportunity for growth within the company- She started as a tour
guide
Her favorite part is the many hidden doors
Summer weather is her least favorite part because there is no air

Sources
Figure 1: Daily Escape. Digital image. Travelchannel. Biltmore Company, n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2016.
Figure 2: Yande. Fall Scenery. Digital image. 3 July 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Figure 3:Calton, Brooke. Biltmore House. Digital image. NCpedia. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Figure 5: Walker, Todd. Digital image. Find a Grave. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Figure 6: Sargent, John. Digital image. Biltmore House. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Figure 7:Izard, Bill. Digital image. Porter Briggs. Web. 19 Apr. 2016

Sources
Figure 8: Richard Morris Hunt. Digital image. Prints and Photographs Reading Room. 2 May 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Figure 9:Digital image. Tripadvisor. Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Figure 10: Digital image. Tripadvisor. Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Figure 11: Dagmi, Jane. Gargoyles. Digital image. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Figure 12: Dagmi, Jane.Roofing and copper flashing. Digital image. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Figure 13: O'Sullivan, Joanne. "Behind Biltmore's Hidden Doors | Biltmore." Behind Biltmore's Hidden Doors | Biltmore. 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Figure 14: Alexander, Sheridan. Digital image. Horseback riding at the Biltmore. AboutTravel. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Figure 15: Alexander, Sheridan. Digital image. Rafting at the Biltmore. AboutTravel. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Figure 16: Houck, Jen. Digitaal image. Easter at the Biltmore. AboutJen. Web. 22 Apr. 2016
Figure 17: Williams, Mack. Digital image. Tiffany and I at Biltmore. 13 Feb. 2016
Figure 18: Worley, Tiffany. Digital image. Dutchess. 13 Feb. 2016

Sources
Figure 19: Worley, Tiffanny. Digital image. Pride and Prejudice. 13 Feb. 2016
Figure 20: Worley, Tiffany. Digital image. Out of Africa. 13 Feb. 2016
Figure 21: Worley, Tiffany. Digital image. Emma. 13 Feb. 2016
Figure 22: Worley, Tiffany. Digital image. Howards End. 13 Feb. 2016
Figure 23: Digital image. Biltmore Inn. Biltmore. Web. 21 Apr. 2016
Figure 24: Digital Image. Green Initiative. Copycon. 21 Apr. 2016

Sources
Covington, Howard E., Jr. Lady On The Hill. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2006. Print.
"Biltmore History | Biltmore." Biltmore History | Biltmore. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.
Pantas, James Lee. "The Ultimate Guide to Asheville & the Western North Carolina Mountains" The Ultimate Guide to Asheville and the Western North Carolina
Mountains. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.
"5.1 Biltmore Estate." Biltmore Estate. UNC School of Education. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.
"Biltmore Estate: Insider's Guide 2016." Biltmore Estate Insider's Guide and Special Offers. 2016 File Investments, Inc. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.
The Biltmore Companies - 2012 Economic Study. Burns & Hammond, 1 Aug. 2013. PDF.
"When Milk Reigned at Biltmore: Remembering the Biltmore Dairy." Our State Magazine. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2016.

Sources
Hennessy, Kelly. "The Biltmore Estate." North Carolina History. Web. 2 Mar. 2016.
"11 Reasons Why Celebrating Christmas at the Biltmore Estate Is Completely Magical." Country Living. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
"Biltmore Estate - Audio Tour? - Asheville Forum." TripAdvisor. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.
Dagmi, Jane. "The Biltmore Estate: A Brief Architectural Tour." Bob Vila The Biltmore Estate A Brief Architectural Tour Comments. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
"Top 10 Most Interesting Biltmore Estate Facts." Travel Advisor Tips RSS. 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
"How the World's Richest Family Went Broke - Early To Rise." Early To Rise. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2016.