It was July 1912. Myrtle Spain Roberts climbed the back stairs of Biltmore House up to her room on the Fourth Floor. She removed her lavender daytime dress and hung it on one of the brass hooks in the cozy room with its lovely view of the surrounding estate. Changing into her black dress she smoothed the quilt on the iron bedstead, straightened her Bible in its place on the bedside table and gave the room with its fireplace a last satisfactory glance before heading downstairs to take on her evening duties as housemaid to the Vanderbilt family in Asheville, NC.
Roberts was just one of many household staff members employed by Biltmore Estate at the turn of the nineteenth century who made her home away from home in the 250-room Biltmore House. She may even have stayed in one of a series of new rooms on the Fourth Floor of America’s largest private home slated to open to the public in July 2005. The first new rooms to be opened in more than five years include three maid’s bedrooms, the Servants’ Hall, the Architectural Model Room and the Observatory.
“It’s always exciting for us to research and restore rooms in Biltmore House,” said Director of Museum Services Ellen Rickman. “The opening of the Fourth Floor rooms is particularly interesting since it will give us an opportunity to show visitors how our research and oral histories tells us servants lived in the house at the turn of the 19th century.”
Most of the maids at Biltmore House slept in a total of 21 assigned rooms on the Fourth Floor. Some of the rooms have fireplaces, while all of them contain windows providing beautiful views of the property. A space was dedicated to the storage of clothing on brass hooks and built-in shelves. The rooms were furnished with iron beds and washstands, chestnut bedside tables and chests of drawers or suites of oak furniture. There was even a modern bathroom with hot and cold running water for staff use—an early 1900s luxury indeed!
Beyond the bedrooms, at the end of the hall and down a short flight of steps, is the Servants’ Hall. Centrally located on the Fourth Floor, the room served a dual purpose. Maids would have relaxed and socialized here when not on duty and would also have gathered in this space to mend household textile items and their own uniforms. It was furnished simply, but comfortably with chairs, tables, bookshelves, oil lamps to supplement electric lighting, a rug, framed artwork and other functional items. Visitors can easily imagine Roberts mending the hem of her lavender day dress while chatting with the other maids at the end of the day.
In addition to seeing how staff lived, estate guests will also be able to explore a one-of-a-kind room located in the front of the home. The Observatory is strategically positioned at the top of the main entrance tower in the center of Biltmore House. The two-story room was designed to serve as an observation gallery from which the surrounding views could be enjoyed. It is believed that Vanderbilt used the Observatory as a place to showcase the architecture of his spectacular home and its incomparable setting for guests, bringing them to the room at the very top of the Grand Staircase almost as if it were the crow’s nest in a ship. Guests on a regular, self-guided visit will explore the lower level of the Observatory where a sitting area is located and windows offer views to the front of the house. The more adventurous can book the South Wing tour and venture onto the wrought iron balcony on the upper level of the room with two doors accessing rooftop balconies that offer even more expansive views.
The final room to be opened in July is the Architectural Model Room. Located directly behind the Observatory, this room is where Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt's 9.9-foot long and three-foot tall model of the house was originally displayed. A large oak cabinet in the center of the room is the original base for the model, which has been in the Halloween Room in the basement of the house in recent years. Duplicates of original house plans will also be displayed in this room, providing guests a glimpse into the architectural intricacies of the house.
Of course, seeing how staff lived and learning a little about the architecture of Biltmore House may whet some visitors’ appetites for more. To satisfy that curiosity, the estate is offering two new Behind-the-Scenes Tours including some rooms never before offered for guest viewing.
The North Wing Tour will allow guests to step out onto the Organ Gallery in the Banquet Hall for the first time ever. The gallery is where the restored Skinner pipe organ is situated and offers a birds eye view of the 70-foot tall and 72-foot long room. This tour also takes guests out onto the roof of the Winter Garden (weather permitting) to view the elegant glass roof while also getting a closer look at the house’s exterior architecture. Other stops include Edith Vanderbilt’s bath and dressing area, the Butler’s Pantry and the Boiler Room.
The South Wing Tour takes guests to the very top of Biltmore House with stops in attic spaces and on several rooftop areas including one of visitors’ favorite spots—the roof at the top of the Grand Staircase. This tour allows guests to see the newly opened Observatory from the top down as they move around the wrought iron walkway to reach an exterior balcony where gargoyles sit patiently waiting. The tour also ventures into unrestored bedrooms including the Tyrolean Chimney and Gainsborough Rooms.
“Guests can now see more of Biltmore House than ever before,” said Senior Vice President Randy Fluharty. “We find that our visitors often want to know more about the house and are curious to see areas that aren’t available for viewing. By opening new rooms, we satisfy that curiosity while giving ourselves the opportunity to share even more information about the estate’s rich history.”
The five new rooms are scheduled to open July 1, 2005, as part of the standard self-guided visit. Behind- the-Scenes Tours may be booked for an additional fee.
For more, go to the Biltmore Estate Web site. |
