In the fall of 1999, my husband and I lost our home near the coast of South Carolina in flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd. Moving to higher ground felt like a good idea. We’d visited Biltmore Estate a few years earlier, and Asheville, North Carolina, seemed a likely spot. When I learned the public relations department at Biltmore Estate had an opening, the pieces began to fall into place.
I worked at Biltmore for just over six years. It was a dream job that meant I got to go behind the scenes of America’s largest privately owned home. I had a walkie-talkie and was authorized to unhook those velvet ropes, but only for a very good reason. I had the chance to walk along the balcony in the library, and peek into the yet to be restored areas of the house. I stood in the organ loft of the banquet hall as the massive Christmas tree was hoisted into place. And one magical Christmas I was allowed to decorate the tree in George Vanderbilt’s gilded bedroom. It was incredible.
But my favorite thing about Biltmore wasn’t the historic house, the treasures inside it, or even the spectacular gardens—it was the people. Just as in the days when the Vanderbilts were in residence, a large staff is needed to ensure everything runs smoothly. Curators get each historical detail precisely right. The floral displays staff change out the décor seasonally. (Visit the house at Christmastime!) The maintenance staff keeps everything clean and in working order. The hosts continuously learn about and share historical tidbits. The farm and gardens staff deadhead roses and mow hay. And that doesn’t even begin to cover the administrative staff.
I owe a debt of gratitude to every person I worked with at Biltmore Estate. I’d especially like to thank Ellen Rickman, director of museum services, for answering obscure questions like the one about a wedding breakfast happening in the afternoon, and Cathy Barnhardt, retired floral displays manager, for being an early reader. Both know more about Biltmore than I could ever hope to.
I write stories about Appalachia. I love how the Vanderbilts, while bringing their Gilded Age influence to the mountains, were in turn influenced by Appalachia. Edith did indeed wear a homespun suit when she famously spoke to the North Carolina General Assembly. And Cornelia, or Tarheel Nell, was beloved by the estate’s staff and the locals. Yes, they really did send a car for Frank the gatekeeper so he could attend Cornelia’s wedding.
If you’d like to know more about Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Industries, below is a list of books to consider:
Alexander, Bill. Image of America: The Biltmore Estate Gardens and Grounds. Arcadia Publishing, 2015.
Bryan, John M. Biltmore Estate: The Most Distinguished Private Place. Rizzoli Press, 1994.
Covington, Howard E. Jr. Lady on the Hill: How Biltmore Estate Became an American Icon. John Wiley & Sons, 2006.
Kiernan, Denise. The Last Castle. Atria Books, 2017.
Rickman, Ellen Erwin. Images of America: Biltmore Estate. Arcadia Publishing, 2005.
Rybczynski, Witold. A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century. Touchstone, 2000.
Stein, Susan R., ed. The Architecture of Richard Morris Hunt. University of Chicago Press, 1986.