Visiting the Biltmore Estate is awing! It is reminiscent of visiting a European castle. The descendents of George Washington Vanderbilt II still own and operate the estate today. It is without a doubt an American treasure. Architecturally, it is interesting because the architect brought design elements from various regions of Europe creating a unique and interesting blend of styles. Historically, a visit to the Biltmore brings to life the money amassed by American families that emerged during the industrial age. Prior to our visit, we viewed an informative documentary on youtube to introduce us to the background of the family. The home displays priceless portraits of the family painted by renown artists. There are also two Renoirs in the collection for viewing. A visit to Biltmore makes for a field trip that can be a wonderful compliment to a history or art unit.
It It is a wonderful day trip for older elementary aged children. The museum has done something I really wish more museums would do, they have a tour specifically geared towards children. When you purchase your tickets for a ten dollar additional charge you can rent a head set. The head set is easy to operate. At the entrance of each room their is a sign with a number. You simply type the number into the control panel and it plays the audio for that room. The children’s audio is delightful. It is narrated by the Vanderbilt family’s Saint Bernard, Cedric. The audio even leads the children to an actual photograph of the “real” Cedric in the family library. In addition to the audio, children are given a hand out which leads them on a visual scavenger hunt. Admission to the Biltmore House can be slightly pricey and varies depending on the time of year you visit. It is always advisable to check the website when planning your visit.