Biltmore Estate, 1981

I don't know about you, but I have been loving the new series The Gilded Age on HBO. I am a sucker for opulence and gaudy wealth on TV, and when they throw in a little drama, I can't say no. It was on my mind as I was recently updating my shop and I stopped short at these Biltmore beauties.

USPS has released a number of stamps celebrating American architecture, with this 1981 release also including images of late 19th century architecture in Minnesota, San Francisco and New York. Biltmore House was designed by Richard Morris Hunt, who is also known for the pedestal under the Statue of Liberty and the facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No biggie. He designed the Biltmore Estate for the Vanderbilt family, who are inspiration for the Russells in The Gilded Age.

George Vanderbilt II commissioned the house in the 1880s after acquiring over 700 parcels of land in the North Carolina mountains. Construction took 6 years and ended with a giant Christmas Eve party in 1895. All was wonderful until income tax became a thing in 1913. The estate languished for a bit, but opened tours to the public in 1930, which continue to this day even though it is still privately owned by the Vanderbilt descendants. It is currently the largest privately owned residence in the United States. 

Biltmore House in 1900

Biltmore House in 1900

A recent image of Biltmore House