It’s no secret that I love visiting the Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC. Chris and I have been season passholders since we moved back to North Carolina and I take any opportunity I get to stop by and visit. The great thing is that they are always changing exhibits and offering new things for folks to enjoy and it keeps us all going back time and time again.
Biltmore House was a collaborative effort between George Vanderbilt, architect Richard Morris Hunt, and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Completed in 1895, the home contains over four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 45 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces.
The current special exhibit in the house is named A Vanderbilt House Party – The Gilded Age. The rooms are adorned with mannequins who are dressed in the garb of both daytime and nighttime attire during the times when there were family and friends present at the estate. As always the exhibit was an exquisite look at the finery of the era.
When Ann and I visited it was a rainy dreary Tuesday and the perfect day to wander through the house. It was practically empty of guests and we had unobstructed views and could enjoy a stroll through the house at our own pace. The route that we took was a little different than on previous visits so it was fun to see a few different rooms and go in a different direction than I had before.
Reproductions of clothing from the Vanderbilts’ own wardrobes are displayed in the settings in which they were originally worn. Guided by Biltmore curators, Oscar®-winning costumier John Bright and Cosprop of London recreated the styles that the Vanderbilt family and their guests wore at the turn of the century. The results are amazing.
This special show is on display at the estate in Asheville from February 8th, 2019 until May 27th, 2019. It is well worth a trip to see these spectacular displays. Tickets and more information can be accessed on line at the Biltmore website.
I absolutely love these exhibits and am so happy when I can have the chance to go to see them. We hit the exhibit during the first week of having it on display and there was a sense of excitement in the air. If you are in the Asheville area this might be a great thing to put on your bucket list. There is plenty to see on the grounds and all kinds of restaurants and shopping as well.
If you have been to one of these exhibits at the Biltmore before I would love to hear your impressions. Please leave me a comment and Comment for a Cause for PAWS. You can read more information about Comments for a Cause by clicking here.
