The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home

The Biltmore Estate is a sprawling mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, that was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 19th century. It is the largest private home in the United States and is now a popular tourist destination. The story of the Biltmore Estate is a fascinating one, filled with love, loss, and American royalty.

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home

by Denise Kiernan

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	45749 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	401 pages

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The Early Years

George Vanderbilt was born into a wealthy family in New York City in 1862. His father was a railroad magnate and his mother was a member of the prominent Astor family. Vanderbilt was educated at Yale University and then traveled extensively throughout Europe. In 1889, he married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, a member of another wealthy New York family. The couple had one daughter, Cornelia.

In the early 1890s, Vanderbilt began to develop plans for a grand estate in the mountains of North Carolina. He purchased over 125,000 acres of land in the Asheville area and began construction on the Biltmore House in 1895. The house was designed by the著名建筑师Richard Morris Hunt and took six years to complete. It is a massive structure, with 250 rooms and 43 bathrooms. The house is filled with art and antiques from all over the world.

The Biltmore Estate was more than just a house. It was a self-sustaining community, with its own farms, forests, and even a hydroelectric plant. Vanderbilt employed over 1,000 people to work on the estate. He also opened the estate to the public, and it quickly became a popular tourist destination.

Love and Loss

Vanderbilt and his wife, Edith, were deeply in love. They spent many happy years together at the Biltmore Estate. However, their happiness was cut short in 1914 when Edith died suddenly of typhoid fever. Vanderbilt was devastated by his wife's death. He never remarried and spent the rest of his life living at the Biltmore Estate.

Vanderbilt died in 1919 at the age of 57. He left the Biltmore Estate to his daughter, Cornelia. Cornelia lived at the estate until her death in 1972. She left the estate to her son, William Cecil, who opened it to the public in 1976.

American Royalty

The Biltmore Estate is often referred to as "America's Downton Abbey." Like the fictional Downton Abbey, the Biltmore Estate is a grand mansion that was home to a wealthy and powerful family. The Vanderbilts were one of the richest and most influential families in the United States, and the Biltmore Estate was a symbol of their wealth and status.

The Biltmore Estate has been visited by many famous people over the years, including President Theodore Roosevelt, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Queen Elizabeth II. The estate has also been featured in several movies and television shows, including "The Great Gatsby" and "The Last of the Mohicans."

The Biltmore Estate Today

The Biltmore Estate is now a popular tourist destination. Over one million people visit the estate each year. Visitors can tour the house, the gardens, and the grounds. They can also dine at one of the estate's restaurants or stay at one of the estate's hotels.

The Biltmore Estate is a reminder of a bygone era. It is a testament to the wealth and power of the Vanderbilt family and to the love and loss that they experienced. The estate is a beautiful and fascinating place to visit, and it is well worth a trip to Asheville.

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The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home

by Denise Kiernan

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	45749 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	401 pages

FREE