The Vanderbilt Travels Railway at The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is another offering that the estate currently has on the grounds. The Biltmore continues to amaze me with the different things that are available for viewing. Chris and I are yearly pass holders and it has been worth the small investment as we can visit anytime we like. Lately it appears I have “liked” a great deal with multiple visits within a week at one point.
I already shared a few of my daytime pictures of the Chihuly outdoor glass exhibition here and am anxious to be there for the illuminated night tour. When Chris and I were there the last time together we discovered yet another secret exhibit tucked away in Antler Hill Village.
The Vanderbilt Travels Railway, a model train display highlighting George Vanderbilt’s travels with handcrafted architectural elements made from leaves, twigs, and other natural materials is available to view through Labor Day 2018 and it is a definite do not miss exhibit especially if you have children along. Who doesn’t love trains?
Vanderbilt Mansion
Hyde Park, New York
These replicas are constructed from twigs and leaves and all kinds of neat natural materials that the skilled artists from Applied Imagination who have designed and constructed the imaginative display.
Each building in the display represents a specific travel event in the life of the Vanderbilt family and the descriptive plaques help visitors to explore the travels. I was just taken aback by the details of the buildings and of course the trains that continually run the expansive tracks were a sight to see.
Eiffel Tower
Paris, France
Tower Bridge
London, England
The exhibit is really interesting and adds another level to the story of the Vanderbilt family. The carefully placed descriptive signs detail the connection that the Vanderbilts had with each of the places in the exhibit and it absolutely boggles my mind when I think about what their life must have been like.
Arc De Triomphe
Paris, France
My best advice is to go visit the Biltmore this summer if at all possible. The exhibits, the house, the grounds are all in spectacular form this year and there is always something new being added. Their website is easy to navigate and calling to make reservations and get information is very easy with helpful folks at the other end of the phone. Check out their website by clicking here and to read more about the current train display click here.
If you have been to The Biltmore I would love to read about your favorite thing. Leave me a comment and remember that each comment this month means a 50 cent donation to the Toiletry Drive to help students. Read more about Comments for a Cause by clicking here.
10 Comments
Leave a commentAmazing! We went to Biltmore many years ago (at Christmas!), but I would love to go again. I wasn’t into photography then as much as now, so I only have a couple of pictures of us in front of the mansion.
I have to ask: what will happen to this display after Labor Day?
That is a very good question! I suspect they disassemble and store it but I have no idea! It would be a shame for all that work to just be used for one display so I suspect they have a plan to keep it but I don’t know that for a fact. You definitely need to come back sometime. It is pricey to visit but if it is a special occasion it is worth it. Think Disney. 🙂
What a cool display! Having just been to see the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe it was neat to see it here created out of natural products. That season’s pass has certainly been worth it for you.
YES! I agree about seeing those same structures –it was really fun to see the replicas of things I had seen in real life last year. the season pass has paid for itself many times over already.this year.
How did they ever think of this idea? Weird and wonderful! Thanks for sharing- your Biltmore posts are like being there with you!
Oh wow, that is so neat! My hubby (being the train enthusiast that he is) would love it too. I wonder when this display was added because we didn’t see it when we visited the Biltmore. But that was a couple of years ago. I’d love to go back again sometime. I’m not sure I can name a favorite thing there because I enjoyed it all. 🙂
This is so neat. My family is a train family. Both my grandma and my uncle were long time employees of the Deutsche Bahn, the German railways service. My uncle drove trains for close to 30 years. So I like things that have to do with train travel. 🙂
I didn’t see his when I was on the website. Will have to check again.
It is a really neat exhibit and not one that is really publicized that I can see. It is in Antler Hill Village and I think the Chihuly exhibit is getting all the attention but this one is pretty cool as well so I hope you are able to check it out.
what a unique exhibit! Thanks as always for keeping us caught up with the Biltmore!
Wow, the train exhibit is amazing! When Chuck and I went a few years ago, I was so amazed with the house I ready did not see much else. Would love to go and .take in everything. May spend a few days doing so. Thanks for sharing, Beth Ann , I am really enjoying you blog.