The Fascinating History Behind the Biltmore Estate- BrillBrits
In this post, guest writer Sandra from @brillbrits talks about the fascinating history behind the Biltmore Estate. She has a real passion for the British culture, which she posts about on her Instagram page, @brillbrits. Don’t forget to give her a follow too!
I used to live in Witney, Oxfordshire where we would often visit the amazing Blenheim Palace that was about 10 miles from my house. I have such wonderful memories of Blenheim. Hiking the grounds, Christmas tours, various festivals (jousting and one involving meeting Peppa Pig), an adventure camp, and seeing the 2012 Olympic torch pass through…
So, it is no wonder that when my family moved to Upstate South Carolina I would embrace Biltmore House, which is a short drive from us. It is America’s Palace of sorts and considered the largest Historic Estate in the US.
George Washington Vanderbilt II
Biltmore started with George Washington Vanderbilt II. He was from a wealthy New York family and traveled extensively. He was a Europhile and crossed the Atlantic some 60 times during his lifetime. According to a diary he kept, London was one of his favorite places. He used to visit Windsor Castle and the National Gallery, and enjoyed reading and collecting books while there. He was well educated and admired European architecture.
The Construction of the Biltmore Estate
In 1889 he started constructing the magnificent 250 room French Renaissance Chateau, Biltmore. It took 6 years to complete in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. The house was completed in 1895 and is a testament to his admiration of European influences based on the furnishings, landscape, and architecture.
This grand house was also built with an indoor swimming pool and bowling alley. 3 years later after its completion, he got to know his future wife, American Edith Stuveysant Dresser, aboard a ship bound for London (a bit of matchmaking is believed to have gone on). The romance blossomed soon after at his London’s Pall Mall apartment during Queen Victoria’s 60-year jubilee celebrations. They were married 6 months later in Paris, and honeymooned in Italy. The pair then went to live at the lavish Biltmore Estate to start their life together.
George Washington Vanderbilt II’s Daughter, Cornelia
Their only daughter Cornelia was born and raised at Biltmore. Although she said she would never marry a Brit, she did marry British aristocrat John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1924. Her husband and their 2 sons and the generations following have helped make Biltmore house into what it is today. Cornelia eventually left her life in Biltmore and went on to marry 2 more times, settling for the rest of her life in Oxfordshire UK. She had relatives (Consuelo Vanderbilt & The Dukes of Marlborough (10th-12th) and perhaps access to another grand familiar house, Blenheim Palace…
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Find out more about the history of the Biltmore Estate:
https://www.biltmore.com/our-story/estate-history/
Directions to the Biltmore Estate: