,biltmore ,h\se & ,g>d5s ,,biltmore ,,e/ate ,biltmore-,a%eville ,nor? ,c>ol9a ,,op5 ,,to ,,visitors ,illu/ration3 ,biltmore ,h\se ,f ,! ,esplanade ,illu/ration3 ,decorative capital ,a ,approa*$ f ! ,biltmore ,lodge ,gate ( ,biltmore ,e/ate1 along a ?ree-mile drive ( pav$ roads :i* w9d _! way ?r\gh plantations ( fl[]+ %rubs & =e/s ( p9e1 hemlock & h>dwood1 ,biltmore ,h\se1 = ne>ly half a c5tury unique among ! great c\ntry h\ses ( ,am]ica1 comes into view ) almo/ />tl+ sudd5ness4 ,a %>p turn ?r\gh ! wr\ght iron gates ( ! nor? entrance gives "o ! fir/ view ( ! magnific5t mansion complet$ by ,george ,w4 ,v&]bilt 9 #ahie4 ,illu/ration3 ,banquet ,hall & ,its ,triple ,fireplace ,foll[+ 9 _m details ! l9es ( ,fr5* ,r5aissance *ateaux1 p>ticul>ly ^? ( ,blois & ,*ambord1 ,biltmore ,h\se 0 design$ by ,ri*>d ,m4 ,hunt1 ( ,new ,york4 ,! l&scape sett+ ( ! mansion & ! e/ate 0 plann$ by ,fr$]ick ,law ,olm/$1 design] ( ,c5tral ,p>k1 ,new ,york1 & execut$ "u ! direction ( ,c4 ,d4 ,beadle1 = m ?an sixty ye>s ,sup]9t5d5t ( ! ,e/ate4 ,by _m1 ! great e/ate surr\nd+ ! mansion is believ$ to be ! f9e/ example ( l&scape design 9 ,am]ica4 ,! visitor c pr(itably /udy ! ext]ior ( ! mansion be=e pass+ ?r\gh ! ma9 portal4 ,! /ructure has a frontage ( #ghj feet4 ,! bread? ( ! h\se1 f ! ma9 door to ! we/ front1 is #aej feet4 ,! facade rises 9 ?ree di/9ct levels1 graduat$ f portals to f9ials4 ,! *>act]i/ic ,fr5* peak$ ro(1 ) its dorm] w9d[s & l(ty *imneys1 relieves any t5d5cy t[>d sev]ity4 ,! walls are ( h&-tool$ ,indiana lime/one2 ! ro( is ( slate4 ,biltmore ,h\se1 begun 9 #ahij1 0 complet$ & op5$ 9 #ahie aft] five ye>s ( int5sive con/ruction4 ,special railroad tracks 7 laid f :at is n[ ,biltmore /ation to ! site--?ree miles away--= ! conveyance ( ! great mass ( con/ruction mat]ial requir$4 ,hundr$s ( skill$ artisans f v>i\s p>ts ( ?is c\ntry & ,europe work$ unremitt+ly1 :ile o!r hundr$s ( labor]s f ! m\nta9 sections ( ,nor? ,c>ol9a 7 giv5 /eady employm5t dur+ ! p]iod ( con/ruction4 ,! visitor ga9s ! fir/ impression ( ! mansion's magnitude :5 pass+ ?r\gh ! ma9 entrance door1 flank$ by sixte5? c5tury lions ( ,italian m>ble1 into ! great hall :i* gives access to ! ma9 rooms4 ,! self-support+ ar*es surr\nd+ ! ,palm ,c\rt are ceil$ ) tiles especially made by ! celebrat$ arti/ & ar*itect1 ,rafael ,gua/av9o1 :ile ! ar*es & dome ( ! broad circul> /airway :i* spirals to ! topmo/ floor f ! left side ( ! hall are ( ,indiana lime/one4 ,fac+ ! entrance door f ! re> ( ! hall is a c]emonial furni%+ ( ,c>d9al ,ri*elieu1 %[+ ! ,c>d9al's coat-(-arms1 motto & hat2 x is "o ( a pair1 ! o!r is hung on ! wall ( ! second-floor corridor4 ,! gr& /aircase1 model$ aft] t ( ! ,*ateau ,blois1 w9ds its way ar\nd ! massive wr\ght iron *&eli] :i* ext5ds d[nw>d f ! ro( to ! ,entrance ,hall ceil+1 & be>s a light clu/] = ea* l&+4 ,:ile visitors are free to *oose _! own it9]>y1 ! t\r ( ! mansion usually beg9s at ! ,c\rt ( ,palms1 adjo9+ ! ,entrance ,hall4 ,?is c\rt is a sunk5 area1 encircl$ ) m>ble &1 9 almo/ e season1 adorn$ ) masses ( fl[]s f ! g>d5s & gre5h\ses4 ,! c5tral f\nta9 is surm\nt$ by a /atue ( a boy & swan1 ! "w ( ,k>l ,bitt]1 ! ,au/ro-,am]ican sculptor4 ,on ! walls are copies ( ! ,p>!non ,reliefs1 n[ 9 ! ,briti% ,museum4 ,f ! ,c\rt ( ,palms ! visitor ent]s ! ,oak ,draw+ ,room1 panell$ 9 ,norwegian oak4 ,mo/ ( ! engrav+s hang+ "h are aft] pa9t+s by ,l&se]4 ,heads ( de]1 buffalo1 moose1 & be> also adorn ! walls4 ,! ?ree bronzes ov] ! fireplace are by ,b>ye1 :ile on ! bookcase at ! left are f\r ,*9ese ,celadon vases4 ,! ,spani% table 9 ! c5t] is ( late eighte5? c5tury orig91 z is ! writ+ desk fac+ ! entrance4 ,f ! ,oak ,draw+ ,room "o ent]s ! great ,banquet ,hall1 "o ( ! *ief c5t]s ( attraction4 ,copi$ 9 l>ge measure f an old ,norman banquet hall1 ?is room is #gb feet long2 its ceil+ rea*es a height ( #ge feet4 ,at "o end a triple fireplace1 ext5d+ almo/ across ! entire wid? ( ! room1 is surm\nt$ by a frieze by ,bitt]1 8,! ,return ,f ,! ,*ase40 ,high above ! frieze are gr\p$ ! flags ( ! great p[]s ( ,europe at ! "t ,columbus discov]$ ,am]ica4 ,! out/&+ objects ( int]e/ 9 ! ,banquet ,hall are five sixte5? c5tury tape/ries depict+ ! /ory ( ,vulcan & ! loves ( ,v5us & ,m>s4 ,x is ! unconfirm$ leg5d t ^! tape/ries1 wov5 ( silk & gold1 adorn$ ! t5t ( ! ,fr5* ,k+1 ,francis ,i1 on ! occasion ( 8 hi/oric meet+ ) ,h5ry ,,viii ( ,engl& on ! ,field ( ! ,clo? ( ,gold4 ,! v>i\s figures on ! tape/ries1 :i* 7 made 9 ,brussels aft] ! c>toons ( ! ,bolognese pa9t]1 ,primaticcio1 /& out 9 /rik+ relief4 ,p>ticul>ly does "o note ! beauty & naturalness ( ! f\r m$allions1 "o at ea* corn]4 ,on ! walls are replicas ( ! flags ( ! ?irte5 orig9al /ates1 & ! ,biltmore ,e/ate ,_w ,w> s]vice flag1 ) its fifty-?ree />s--?ree ( !m gold--hangs pr\dly ov] ! c5t] ar*4 ,at ! opposite end ( ! ,banquet ,hall f ! fireplace1 sets ( %elves display brass & copp] pieces ( ,dut*1 ,spani% & ,fr5* orig9 :i* are attribut$ to artisans ( ! sev5te5? c5tury4 ,! l>ge pipes 9 ! organ l(t above are flank$ by wood c>v$ reliefs by ,k>l ,bitt]1 depict+ sc5es f ,wagn]'s op]as4 ,f ! ,banquet ,hall ! visitor proce$s to ! ,d9+ ,room1 ! walls ( :i* are wa9scott$ 9 r$ m>ble1 surm\nt$ by tool$ ,spani% lea!r2 ! uphol/]y is ( ,g5oese velvet 9 r$ & gold4 ,on ! "r is ! fireplace by ,w$gwood4 ,portraits ( memb]s ( ! ,v&]bilt family hang f ! walls4 ,9 ?is room are display$ beautiful ivory c>v+s & lu/re-w>e4 ,9 ! ,pr9t ,room are r>e engrav+s by ,e>lom1 ,mc,ardell1 ,turn]1 ,c\s9s1 ,w>d & ,cole4 ,on ! c5t] pill> ( ! entrance is ! rem>kable engrav+1 8,! ,execution]10 by ,pr9ce ,rup]t1 aft] ,spagnoletto2 und]nea? x is 8,! ,virg9 & ,*ild10 engrav$ by ,!odore ,casp>a ,fur/5b]gh1 aft] ,correggio4 ,! l>ge reassembl$ engrav+ on ! left wall %[s ! family p$igree ( ,maximilian ! ,great1 by ,albre*t ,dur] 7#aeae72 ! six engrav+s on ei!r side ( ?is piece are also by ,dur]4 ,a ,spani% cab9et ( ! sixte5? c5tury is plac$ on ! left ( ! l>ge ,dur] engrav+2 on ! "r a ,dut* cab9et ( ! late sev5te5? c5tury4 ,on ! "r ( ! entrance1 9 ! c5t] ( ! end wall1 is an ,italian ebony dress] ( ! sixte5-sev5te5? c5tury2 betwe5 ! w9d[s are a numb] ( bronze bu/s by ,meuni]4 ,an antique t attracts mu* int]e/1 especially among /ud5ts ( hi/ory1 is f\nd 9 ! "r h& corn] ( ?is room1 ne> ! entrance--! *ess table & set ( *essm5 once own$ by ,napoleon ,bonap>te1 & us$ by him dur+ ! six ye>s ( 8 imprisonm5t on ! isl& ( ,/4 ,hel5a4 ,tradition has x t ! emp]or's he>t 0 plac$ 9 ! draw] ( ?is table1 aft] be+ seal$ 9 a silv] box1 foll[+ ! autopsy p]=m$ by ,antomm>*i4 ,doctor ,o',me>a1 a physician plac$ 9 att5dance on ,napoleon by ! ,briti% gov]nm5t1 says 9 8 memoirs t ,lady ,holl&1 ( ,engl&1 pres5t$ ! fam\s ,corsican ) a *ess table1 & x is probable t ?is is ! table ref]r$ to by ,o',me>a4 ,f ! ,pr9t ,room visitors ent] ! ,tape/ry ,gall]y4 ,cov]+ almo/ ! entire #ij-;foot l5g? ( ! walls are ,flemi% tape/ries ( ! late fifte5? c5tury1 depict+ ,prud5ce1 ,fai? & ,*>ity4 ,on ! left ( ! fir/ fireplace is a s(a 9 ,fr5* tape/ry ( ,h5ry ,,iii p]iod1 late sixte5? c5tury2 ! six tape/ry *airs 9 ! c5t] ( ! gall]y are ,l\is ,,xiv4 ,f\r *airs & ! s(a "u ! middle tape/ry are ( ,l\is ,,xiv p]iod4 ,illu/ration3 ,9 ,! ,tape/ry ,gall]y ,illu/ration3 ,! ,gr& ,spiral ,/airway ,9 ! c5t] is a l>ge refectory table f an old ,engli% mona/]y1 probably remov$ f its orig9al sett+ dur+ ! reign ( ,h5ry ,,viii4 ,twelve ,dresd5 *9a figures ( ! ,twelve ,apo/les1 be>+ impr9t ( ! ,imp]ial ,arms ( ,au/ria1 are believ$ to h come f a private *apel ( ! ,hapsburgs4 ,ov] ! door into ! ,libr>y is a portrait ( ,george ,w4 ,v&]bilt by ,s>g5t2 on ! left a ,s>g5t portrait ( 8 "m1 ,mrs4 ,william ,h4 ,v&]bilt1 & on ! "r a portrait ( ,mrs4 ,pet] ,goelet ,g]ry 7=m]ly ,mrs4 ,george ,w4 ,v&]bilt7 by ,bold9i4 ,illu/ration3 ,! ,d9+ ,room ,mov+ into ! ,libr>y ! visitor's att5tion c5t]s on ! fam\s ceil+ pa9t$ by ,tiepolo1 ! la/ out/&+ arti/ ( ! ,v5etian s*ool1 :o di$ 9 #aggj4 ,! canvas1 :i* cov]s ! libr>y ceil+1 0 obta9$ by ,mr4 ,v&]bilt f an old ,italian palace1 on 8 pl$ge t ! "n ( ! =m] own] %\ld nev] be reveal$4 ,! unique libr>y1 panell$ 9 ,circassian walnut1 conta9s m ?an #bj1jjj volumes1 among !m r>e works on art1 ar*itecture & l&scape g>d5s4 ,ov] ! fireplace hangs an ,italian tape/ry1 ( ! late sev5te5? c5tury4 ,two :ite porcela9 vases ( eighte5? c5tury1 ?ree l>ge ,*9ese goldfi% b[ls1 cr$it$ to ! ,m+ dyna/y1 & a piece ( sixte5? c5tury ,spani% embroid]y on ! long table at ! end ( ! room1 are o!r r>e objects ( int]e/4 ,! c>v$ black m>ble fireplace on ! left is n9e feet wide & six feet high2 ! figures on ! &irons are by ,bitt]4 ,leav+ ! ,libr>y "o m\nts ! gr& /aircase to ! second floor & ent]s ! ,fir/ ,hall1 a room #gb by #ce feet4 ,"h are hung _m valuable pa9t+s1 among !m ,s>g5t's life-size portraits ( ,ri*>d ,morris ,hunt & ,fr$]ick ,law ,olm/$1 design]s ( ! h\se & ! e/ate respectively4 ,"h also is se5 a l>ge ,p]sian palace or temple rug1 middle sixte5? c5tury1 #cc by #be feet4 ,! furniture "h is ,v5etian1 late eighte5? c5tury4 ,ano!r object ( int]e/ is a ,spani% ,w$d+ ,ve/m5t ,*e/4 ,above is an ,italian mirror1 n9ete5? c5tury4 ,op5+ f ! hall is ! ,l\is ,,xvi ,b$room ) furniture ( t p]iod4 ,! ,s\? ,b$room1 once occupi$ by ,mr4 ,v&]bilt1 comm&s f its w9d[s views ( r>ely excell$ sc5ic spl5dor4 ,9 ?is room ! c>v+ & panell+ are ( walnut2 ! furniture is ,spani%1 ,italian & ,portuguese ( ! e>ly eighte5? c5tury4 ,! b$1 hung 9 r$ & gold1 is ,spani%4 ,! ,nor? ,b$room is uphol/]$ 9 purple & gold ,g5oese velvet4 ,! ,oak ,sitt+ ,room1 betwe5 ! ,nor? & ,s\? ,b$rooms1 conta9s sev]al l>ge & beautiful bronzes by ,b>ye1 ,meuni] & ,m5e4 ,!re also is a ,m>ia di ,m$ici settee be>+ ! private monogram ( t tempe/u\s que51 & on ! wall are display$ ,s>g5t's portraits ( ,mrs4 ,kissam & ,mrs4 ,bacon4 ,! visitor em]g+ f ! mansion looks d[n ^u a grassy ,esplanade1 9 ! c5t] ( :i* are a f\nta9 & pool1 ) driveways on ei!r side4 ,beyond ! ,esplanade is a magnific5t /ructure ( /one1 ! 8,rampe ,d\ce10 ) its ?ree turtle f\nts1 erect$ to enable "o1 :e!r m\nt$ or afoot1 to rea* ! bridle pa?s & glades above & beyond4 ,bel[ ! level ( ! ,libr>y ,t]race & ! ,esplanade1 surr\nd$ by boxwood & holly h$ges1 are ! ,swimm+ ,pool & ,italian ,g>d54 ,! holly h$ge is /udd$ at regul> int]vals ) ,italian sculptur$ urns4 ,"h is ! wall ) ivy f ,k5ilwor? ,ca/le1 & a v]itable =e/ ( old ,wi/>ia v9e greets ! visitor 9 ! ,p]gola4 ,"h1 z 9 almo/ e o!r "p ( ! gr\nds adjac5t to ! mansion1 are r>e examples ( beautiful /atu>y procur$ by ,mr4 ,v&]bilt on 8 travels abroad4 ,beyond ! ,libr>y ,t]race are ! ,italian ,g>d51 ! ,%rub ,g>d51 ! ,wall$ ,g>d51 ! ,spr+ ,g>d5 & ! ,azalea ,g>d51 9 ! aggregate conta9+ ab\t ?irty-five acres ( r>e & beautiful plants & fl[]s 9 almo/ endless v>iety1 :i* bloom 9 seasonal succession4 ,! gre5h\ses at ! end ( ! ,wall$ ,g>d5 are devot$ to ! cultivation ( plants & fl[]s us$ 9 ! adornm5t ( ! mansion4 ,! giant palms & f]ns ( _m v>ieties pres5t a truly tropical sc5e4 ,an e/ate ( "s #ab1jjj acres surr\nds ,biltmore ,h\se2 =m]ly x compris$ m ?an #ajj1jjj acres1 b a l>ge portion ( ! =e/ area 0 grant$ to ! gov]nm5t by ,mrs4 ,v&]bilt aft] ,mr4 ,v&]bilt's dea?1 z ! nucleus ( ,pisgah ,national ,=e/1 & #a1ejj acres 7 allott$ = developm5t ( ! ,biltmore ,=e/ ,c\ntry ,club & ! ,t[n ( ,biltmore ,=e/4 ,! e/ate1 ) its #ag miles ( pav$ & macadam roads1 & #abj miles ( eque/rian trails & e>? roads1 gives employm5t to m ?an #ejj p1 ! great] numb] ( ^! be+ engag$ 9 ! op]ation ( ! ,biltmore ,dairy ,f>ms & k9dr$ activities4 ,! ,biltmore h]d ( "s #abjj pure-br$ ,j]seys is "o ( ! l>ge/1 & is recogniz$ z "o ( ! f9e/1 9 ! c\ntry4 ,z a result ( ! ef=ts on behalf ( ! ,a%eville ,*amb] ( ,comm]ce1 ,biltmore ,h\se 0 op5$ to ! public ,m>* #ae1 #aicj1 sixte5 ye>s aft] ,mr4 ,v&]bilt's dea?4 ,admission tickets are on sale at ! ,biltmore ,e/ate (fice on ! ,plaza 9 ,biltmore1 & at ! ,a%eville ,*amb] ( ,comm]ce4 ,illu/ration3 ,a ,section ( ,! ,libr>y ,transcrib]'s ,notes --,sil5tly correct$ a few typos4 --,!re 0 no publication in=mation 9 ! pr9t$ edition3 ?is e,book is believ$ public-doma9 9 ! c\ntry ( publication4 --,9 ! text v]sions only1 text 9 italics is delimit$ by und]scores4