The Biltmore House, designed by Richard Morris Hunt and built in 1889 for George Washington Vanderbilt, is the largest single family home in America at 175,000 sq ft, and was ranked the 8th most interesting structure in the United States in a recent poll by the American Institute of Architects. It was originally surrounded by 125,000 acres of land, now 8,000 acres. The focus of our visit is the gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park in New York City, and particularly the Azalea Garden with many azaleas originally collected by Chauncey Beadle. read more...