America may be famously anti-monarchist, but that doesn't mean there are no castles. While there are plenty of 1980s McMansions in just about every suburb above the country, there's one home that rises above the rest. At 178, 926 sq ft, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is the largest home in the country by a long margin.
A Little Mountain Escape
Conceived as a "little mountain escape", Biltmore belongs to one of the wealthiest families in American history: the Vanderbilts. Amassing an enormous fortune through railway and steamboat transportation, the Vanderbilts were known for their lavish spending habits. Along with the Astors, they were among the major players in America's Gilded Age at the end of the 19th century.
Biltmore was the brainchild of George Washington Vanderbilt II. Families as rich as the Vanderbilts kept summer homes to get away from the heat and hustle of the city in the warmer months. While his cousins and siblings commissioned "cottages" in Newport and Long Island, George Vanderbilt was drawn to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
To build his "little mountain escape", Vanderbilt purchased nearly 700 parcels of land in the Asheville area. Farmers and landowners were more than happy to sell as much of the land was in poor condition. Today, Biltmore is one of North Carolina's biggest economic draws.
Building A Dream House
Vanderbilt spared no expense in making his dream come true. He hired the "family" architect, Richard Morris Hunt to design the home. Not only had Hunt previously worked on several Vanderbilt properties, but he designed part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.
Like other Vanderbilt properties, Biltmore takes inspiration from classic French chateaux. Hunt included steep roofs, turrets, and plenty of gargoyles. The resulting home has 250 rooms spread out over 4 acres of floor space.
However, designing the house was only half the battle, after all, Vanderbilt had been drawn to the land's natural beauty. He commissioned landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted, the man responsible for Central Park. As the land was in poor condition, Olmsted established farms as well as a forestry school on the estate grounds.
On Christmas Eve, 1895, Biltmore was finally opened with a grand holiday party. Construction lasted nearly six years, a massive undertaking for the laborer. This Christmas, Biltmore will be celebrating its 130th anniversary!
Now that we've explored some background on the house, let's finally get into the details.
Inside America's Largest Home
Stephanie Klepacki on Unsplash
As we said, Biltmore has a whopping 250 rooms with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and three kitchens. It also included a Bachelors' With with secret doors hidden in fireplaces, a conservatory, and a model railway. With the size of the house, it's no wonder visitors are recommended an entire weekend for exploring.
Innovation was key at Biltmore. In addition to an electric elevator, central heating and controlled clocks, Biltmore was built to be electrified. Vanderbilt was close friends with Thomas Edison, which meant that his house was among the most modern in the country. There was also a call ball system, which we imagine would be useful for the servants.
As for the decorating, Vanderbilt supervised that himself. An avid collector with a discerning eye, there are more than 92,000 objects in these intricately decorated rooms. Some highlights include Renaissance tapestries, Ming Dynasty vases, and paintings by Monet and Renoir.
While the basement may not seem exciting, we've saved the best for last. Biltmore takes basement rec rooms to the next level with a gymnasium and heated swimming pool with underwater light. There's even a bowling alley, in case you thought rich people didn't know how to have fun!
Biltmore was officially opened to tourists in 1930; for almost a century it has been a major draw to the Asheville area. Because the property is so sprawling—it includes a winery, horse trails, and falconry demonstrations—you can actually stay in one of the property's cottages to make the most of your visit. With a big Christmas coming up and artifacts from King Tut's tomb on display, this Biltmore holiday season is sure to be one to remember.
