That's A House?

Take a look at this house...if you can call it that! Wow! It is the Biltmore originally owned by George Vanderbilt & his family in 1895. American's largest house is in Asheville, NC & has '250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley, priceless art and antiques.' It took 6 years to make & was origionally on 125,000 acres. Much has been donated to forestry now. The house itself covers 4 acres (175,000 square feet or about 88 avg homes!) In 1894 it too 438 employees to run the place. Today it takes 1,500! It has 23,000 books!

I'm not sure I'd call this a "house." You could get lost in there, although depending on the situation that might be good! Ha! I mean do you dare play 'Hide & Seek'? That is just mean for a parent to do! Ha!

Check out the Interactive Timeline on the site for more historical information! Also check out the films which used the Biltmore, including "Forest Gump", "Patch Adams", "The Clearing", "Hannibal" and "Richie Rich".

They said the construction workers made the following:

50 cts/day by local laborers
$4/day stonecutters
$2.25-$2.75/day for cabinetmakers
$2.25/day for carpenters

Now this is starting in 1899, so I wonder what kind of money that would be today? I wonder if that would have been good money or not?

Sounds like a trip to take! :-)