Feature article
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'New’ Biltmore rooms provide personal perspective
By Doug Janz
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The newly opened Louis XV Room was the birthplace of two generations of Vanderbilts.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Millions of visitors over the years have gazed with awe and a certain envious curiosity at the legendary Biltmore, the castle-like estate built by George Washington Vanderbilt in the late 1800s.
The home is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most remarkable residences in the country, if not the world, set amidst a spectacular 8,000-acre estate. Visitors are overwhelmed by the opulence, splendor and grand scale of the place, with its complex architecture, European influences, sprawling grounds and dazzling gardens.
But what of the people who lived there? The Vanderbilts were fabulously wealthy and lived a lifestyle different than most, but they still experienced everyday problems and joys like everyone else.
That’s what Biltmore hopes to showcase with the opening of four “new” rooms, closed off for nearly 100 years and never before shown to the public. A three-year restoration project culminated in April with the opening of the Louis XV Room — where Cornelia Vanderbilt was born in 1900 and where she gave birth to sons in 1925 and 1928 — as well as three other rooms: the Claude Room, Damask Room and Tyrolean Chimney Room.
It’s a suite where the Vanderbilts lived and had friends stay.
“I think there’s definitely a new focus on the family,” said LeeAnn Donnelly with Biltmore public relations. “This is where the day-to-day operation of the family took place. It kind of gives it special meaning because it’s where two generations of Vanderbilts were born.”
Biltmore Estate has 250 rooms, with more than 90 open to the public. Donnelly said there is a master plan that addresses periodic restoration projects. The last opening of new space was five years ago, when 10 rooms on the fourth floor, where servants once lived, were restored and opened to the public.
The next big restoration project will be to the second floor living hall, now an exhibit space called “If These Walls Could Talk.”
The four newly opened rooms have been a big hit with visitors, and it was visitor feedback that led to their restoration.
“We have heard a lot from visitors who say ‘Wow, we’d love to see more of the house.’ People who’ve been here multiple times like to see parts they haven’t seen, or learn more about the people who lived here,” Donnelly said. “We pay a lot of attention to feedback from visitors. It’s an ongoing process and this is an example of us listening to them.”
To authentically restore this part of the house, Biltmore curators, conservators and craftsmen did years of research, sourcing materials from around the globe. Among the projects they undertook:
Piecing remnants of original wallpaper found underneath door moldings and drapery brackets to determine wallpaper patterns for the reproduction process;
- Traveling to France to collaborate with fabric and wallpaper company designers to ensure the original fabrics were reproduced exactly;
- Hours of cleaning and repairing the objects from George Vanderbilt’s collection;
- Hand mixing of paints to match the original colors.
The 250 pieces of furniture and decorative items displayed in the rooms had been in storage for 70 years but now look just like they did when they were new and the Vanderbilts were enjoying them.
In the process of restoring these rooms, Biltmore staff did extensive biographical research on the Vanderbilts, which led to a better understanding of their lives.
“New stories about family and friends emerged as our staff researched it,” Donnelly said. “A lot of that has been added into the selfguided audio tours we offer. It gives people a much more personal perspective on the family.
“Obviously different things are going to appeal to different people, but this is a little bit of a move away from facts, figures and furniture to people and family connections. They were people, too. There were kids running around, St. Bernards in the house, things that are relatable about the family, so we want to bring those to the attention of the guests.”
As for the rest of the house, no one lives there these days. Many of the rooms not on display are offices or are used for archives, storage or other administrative matters.
“But there are still opportunities down the road,” Donnelly said, for more areas to be restored and opened for public viewing. She added that even staff members who have worked for years at Biltmore still find something new every time they walk onto the estate.
An average visitor tour of Biltmore takes 90 minutes to two hours. Cost ranges, depending on the season, from $47-$56 in advance for adults, $23.50-$28 for ages 10-16 (who are admitted free July 1-Sept. 7) and free for children ages 9 and under with a paying adult. Costs are slightly higher for tickets purchased at the gate.
“We really encourage people, if they can, to purchase tickets ahead of time because right now is busy season,” Donnelly said. “The house is what draws people here, but there are other things going on to stretch out the visit that are included in the admission price — more than 80 acres of formal and informal gardens, great restaurants, the winery with fabulous tasting room and tours, and Riverbend Farm, which is a display of what it was like on the farm in the 1890s. There are are animals roaming around and kids really love that.”
There are also walking and hiking trails, and many visitors enjoy having a picnic on the large hill above the house.
“When you come to the estate and you go through those gates, before you see the house for the first time, there’s a sense of excitement that builds over the three miles from Biltmore Village to the house,” Donnelly said. “It’s like a sense of enchantment; people’s faces are kind of spellbound.
“I think the house provides an oasis from the everyday rat race and people really appreciate that. They’re fascinated by the Vanderbilts, what a jewel this estate is and by the fact that someone actually lived in that house. It’s just a very special place.”
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