In August, 1945, the war in Europe was finally drawing to a close. Now, American forces were focusing their attention on the battle in the Pacific Ocean. After years of bloodshed, coupled with Japan’s refusal to surrender, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave permission to American scientists to begin the Manhattan Project – an endeavor that would lead to the execution of one of the most controversial events in the country’s history. Here, we’re looking back at the pivotal moments, key players, and the public’s response to the development of the atomic bombs.
Developing the Project
Nuclear fission, the chemical mechanism that fuels an atomic explosion, was first discovered in a German laboratory in 1938. Scientists learned that when the atom of radioactive material suddenly splits into several smaller atoms, it releases an explosive amount of energy. Now, the stage was set for them to begin experimenting on weapons with devastating potential.
After having fled from Nazi Germany, world-renowned scientist Albert Einstein was living in the United States during World War II. Before he left, he had learned of the development of atomic weapons in Germany. He wrote to President Roosevelt, warning him of the potential destruction should Germany be successful in creating a functioning bomb. Roosevelt had heard of the weapon before, but hadn’t taken the warning seriously. The letter from Einstein finally forced Roosevelt into action, and so in 1941, the Manhattan Project was born.
Columbia University, University of Chicago, and University of California, Berkley were among the earliest institutions tasked with researching nuclear fission. At the University of Chicago, under the leadership of Enrico Fermi, a scientist who fled Fascist Italy, a successful nuclear chain reaction was conducted. With proof that the weapon could work, the American government offered funding to open several more research locations throughout the country. The headquarters of this expanded research was located in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and ultimately led by scientist Robert Oppenheimer. Today, Oppenheimer is considered the “Father of the Atomic Bomb.”
A mushroom cloud caused by a bomb test. Reprinted from Nevada Test Site by Peter W. Merlin, courtesy of the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Nevada field office (pg. 4, Arcadia Publishing, 2016).
Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill decided early on that only a small number of top scientists would be involved in the project, as keeping it a secret from Germany and Japan was crucial to its success. By 1945, the project was ready for testing. At Trinity Site in New Mexico, eager scientists detonated the first atomic bomb, but no one was prepared for what they witnessed that day.
A massive mushroom cloud shot 100-feet into the air, with a luminous burst of light brightening the morning sky. The flash was visible up to 200 miles away, and the force blew out the windows of civilian homes over 100 miles away. The American government released a statement to a concerned public that the blast had resulted from the explosion of an ammunition dump in the desert. No one suspected the country had just entered the nuclear age. President Truman, who had recently come to power after the death of President Roosevelt, was told the bomb was successful, leaving him with a harrowing decision of how to use such power.
Dropping the Bombs
A mushroom cloud caused by a bomb test. Reprinted from Nevada Test Site by Peter W. Merlin, courtesy of the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Nevada field office (pg. 4, Arcadia Publishing, 2016).
By the time the atom bomb was completed, Americans were becoming wary of the war in the Pacific. With the Japanese relentless in their attacks on the American military, it seemed their soldiers would fight until there was no one left standing. After the bloody invasion of Iwo Jima, Truman was faced with a choice: an invasion of mainland Japan that he estimated would result in even more deaths on both sides, or drop the atomic bomb. In the years after dropping the bombs, Truman would note it as the most difficult decision of his life.
First, Allied powers demanded full surrender of the Japanese army. When Japan’s leadership refused, the Enola Gay dropped the first bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Upon detonation, the bomb instantly killed 70,000 Japanese citizens, with another 100,000 dying of burns and radiation in the following years. Again, Japan was asked to surrender. The Soviet Union declared war on Japan, but still the country refused. On August 9, the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 80,000 Japanese citizens. Finally, on August 14, the Japanese surrendered, and World War II came to a close.
Americans React
The American public’s response to the news of the bombs was mixed. Those with loved ones fighting overseas were relieved the war was finally over, as families and friends could finally be reunited. Celebrations took place in communities across the country.
However, there was also a lot of fear. Many Americans worried what sort of implications the use of atomic weapons in war would have on future conflicts. People feared such technology, should it fall into the wrong hands, would be used to destroy the world. Some of these concerns came to fruition during the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union.
There were also mixed reactions regarding the ethics of dropping the bombs. Some Americans believed them wholly necessary, while others viewed them as malicious and unforgiving. Truman and the American government tried to sway these critics by releasing pieces of propaganda that explained the reasoning for dropping the bombs. Still, the debate continued.
The United States sent a message to countries around the world with the dropping of the atomic bombs: the world had entered a new age of nuclear technology – one capable of producing devastating outcomes. The scientists who worked on the bombs failed to recognize the results. The blasts were larger than expected, and the radiation poisoning that followed proved horrific for communities surrounding Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The ethical debate of nuclear weapons in wartime had begun – a debate that has continued to today.
Since the 1960s, music festivals in American have been a place for music lovers to gather for daily live concerts performed by their favorite artists. Billboard estimates that at least 32 million Americans attend music festivals every year. With the improvement of technology, modern day festivals can complete their shows with impressive light and audio displays to make for unbeatable experiences. While there are thousands of music festivals in the United States today, we’ve selected seven to highlight here that are among the most historic music festivals in the country.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza has been making headlines since 1991. Not just for the major names of the music industry that perform on these stages every year, but for the massive amounts of people who flock here. Complete with 8 stages and over 170 bands, it’s no surprise that Lolla draws attendees back year after year. In recent years, the event has started offering VIP accommodations, including up-close tickets and personal cabanas. Even a simple general admission ticket allows music fans the chance to see their favorite artists up close.
Woodstock
A backstage view at Woodstock. Reprinted from Bethel by Rita J. Sheehan, courtesy of the Alexy family (pg. 123, Arcadia Publishing, 2009).
No list of famous music festivals would be complete without Woodstock. This one-time event from August 15-18, 1969 attracted 400,000 people to “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace and Music.” In all, there were 32 acts that were performed outside, rain or shine. According to Rolling Stone, Woodstock is among the top 50 moments in history that changed the course of Rock and Roll. Musician Joni Mitchell was quoted calling Woodstock “a spark of beauty.” The original site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Coachella
Set in the heart of California, Coachella is one of the most popular modern music festivals. Unlike most yearly festivals, Coachella highlights and artists from an array of genres. The festival’s first event was in 1999. It skipped a year in 2000 before returning in 2001, and remaining consistent since. Coachella has seen names like Pearl Jam, Iggy Pop, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, and Kings of Leon, just to name a few. In 2015, Coachella won Pollstar’s Major Music Festival of the Year award for the 10th time in 11 years.
Summerfest
The original mainstage at Summerfest. Reprinted from Milwaukee Jazz by Joey Grihalva, courtesy of the Milwaukee County Historical Society (pg. 92, Arcadia Publishing, 2019).
Noting itself as the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has been highlighting artists since 1968. Every year, for about 11 days over the 4th of July, 12 stages are erected for over 800 acts. It’s estimated that 800,000 – 900,000 people attend the event. In recent years, Summerfest has also earned a reputation for sponsoring local cuisine. Not only do festival attendees get to see their favorite artists perform, they get a taste of native Milwaukee delicacies as well.
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Bonnaroo’s style is largely influenced by rock concerts of the 1960s and 1970s, and gives subtle nods to Woodstock. Focusing the musical talent in the punk rock and folk genres, this festival has been opening its stage for performers and music lovers since 2002. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked Bonnaroo within the top 50 events to have influenced the history of Rock and Roll.
Newport Folk Festival
George Wein, the founder of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. Reprinted from Legendary Locals of Newport by Annie Sherman, courtesy of Dave Hansen and The Newport Daily News (pg. 108, Arcadia Publishing, 2013).
As the counterpart of the older and more established Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport Folk Festival draws massive crowds every year. Like the name suggests, this festival focuses on artists in the folk genre. It began in Newport, Rhode Island in 1959, and has served as the epicenter for the rise of popular folk music in America. George Wein established the festival in response to the 1958 Folk Revival movement, wanting upcoming artists to have a central stage to display their talents. His efforts prevailed, making the Newport Folk Festival into one of the most popular festivals today.
Austin City Limits Music Festivals
For two consecutive three-day weekends, fans of artists in genres ranging from folk and pop to indie and rock gather in Austin, Texas for concerts from 10 AM to 10 PM. A music festival in Austin would not be complete without a food scene. Austin Eats is the festival’s central food court, highlighting some of Austin’s most famous cuisine. Beginning in 2002 with major names of the music industry, the Austin City Limits Music Festival has begun to incorporate more Texas-born musicians to bring the attention back to the festival’s home city. In recent years, The Strokes, Mumford and Sons, Jay Z, and Chance the Rapper are a few of the names who have crossed these stages.
Since the mid-1900s, music festivals have offered music lovers a chance to see some of their favorite musicians all in one weekend. While today most festivals have become extravagant events, they still harken back to their roots as an opportunity to celebrate and admire amazing performers and their art. From classic music events like Woodstock, to modern day gatherings like Coachella, music festivals show no signs of slowing down.
When the Orville brothers conducted the first successful test flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, very few could have predicted how important aviators would become to American culture. Pilots like Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and the Orvilles became celebrities in their own right as aviation technology developed, and today these pioneers of flight serve as inspirations for new generations of pilots. Here, we’re delving into the history of just five of America’s greatest aviators.
Noel Wien
Pilot Noel Wien. Reprinted from Alaska’s Bush Pilots by Rob Stapleton with the Alaska Aviation Museum, courtesy of Alaska’s Aviation Museum (pg. 29, Arcadia Publishing, 2014).
Noel Wien can be credited with bringing aviation to Alaska. He took his first airplane ride in 1921, and was hooked. In 1924, Wien made the first flight between Anchorage and Fairbanks. He would go on to fly from Fairbanks to Nome, past the Arctic Circle, across the Bering Strait, and a round-trip flight between Alaska and Asia.
In a daring 1925 feat, Wien was returning from a flight beyond the Arctic Circle when his plane ran out of gas, forcing Wien to land on a gravel bar. He walked 70 miles in three days, surviving on only three biscuits for food. Wien received his formal pilot’s certificate later that year. Through fantastic accomplishments, Wien earned himself nicknames like “the Arctic Ace” and “the Lindy of the North.”
Bessie Coleman
Not only was Bessie Coleman the first African American woman pilot, but the first Native American woman pilot as well. She earned the nicknames “Brave Bessie” and “The Only Race Aviatrix in the World” for her flying tricks and performance stunts. She dropped out of college after it proved unaffordable, and went to live with her brother in Chicago when she was 23. While she lived there, her brother would tease her that she couldn’t learn to fly a plane, but a French woman could. Later, Coleman would credit this as the fuel that made her pursue a career in aviation.
Coleman moved to France where she could receive equal pilot training, and received her international pilot’s license on June 15, 1921. She spoke at institutes around the country, refusing locations that were still segregated, and encouraging young women to learn to fly. Coleman showed films of her doing airborne tricks to schools. Her career came to a tragic close in 1926, when a roofless plane she was flying malfunctioned, causing it to flip over. Because Coleman wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, she fell to her death.
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh. Reprinted from San Diego International Airport, Lindbergh Field by Katrina Pescador, Alan Renga, Pamela Gay, San Diego Air & Space Museum (pg. 25, Arcadia Publishing, 2012).
Charles Lindbergh was the first person to complete a nonstop solo trans-Atlantic flight from New York City to Paris in 1927. Caught in the grip of prospective air travel, Lindbergh studied engineering in college. He left college to become a stunt pilot at local fairs before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1924.
The idea of flying nonstop across the Atlantic came from a New York City hotel owner in 1919, who offered $25,000 to the first pilot to make the flight, but by 1927, four men had died, three were injured, and two were missing after having attempted to cross the ocean. Lindbergh convinced nine businessmen in St. Louis to fund his journey. He even removed a parachute from his gear to make room for more fuel, earning him the name “the flying fool.” However, Lindbergh proved the skeptics wrong when he successfully reach Paris in under 35 hours, earning him a then-record in aviation.
James H. Doolittle
James H. Doolittle is best known for his leadership role in the attack against Tokyo during World War II. The general was born in December, 1896, and served in World War I as an aviator and flight instructor. During the 1920s, he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to receive a doctorate in engineering. He later went on to serve as an aircraft consultant and began racing planes, where he set a world record in 1932.
Doolittle returned to the Army Air Forces full time when World War II broke out. In April 1943, he led an air attack that struck Tokyo and surrounding cities. While the attack itself did little damage, it was significant in that it bolstered morale of American citizens after the attack on Pearl Harbor’s devastating impact. Doolittle was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his achievements.
Wilbur and Orville Wright
Orville Wright (center left). Reprinted from Montgomery Aviation by Billy J. Singleton (pg. 14, Arcadia Publishing, 2007).
A list of important early American pilots would not be complete without the two brothers who kick started aviation in America. Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first people to take to the sky in an airplane they designed in 1903. Wilbur and Orville’s love for aviation came from a gift from their father – this small helicopter made of bamboo, paper, and cork fascinated the boys, and inspired them to begin experimenting with their own designs.
The brothers selected Kitty Hawk, North Carolina as their testing ground because of its strong winds. They watched how birds manipulated their wings for angle and control to help them master their designs. After several experiments, they succeed in 1903, when Wilbur flew a power-driven plane for 59 seconds at 852 feet. It marked both the beginning of aviation in America, and the start of the legacy of the Wright brothers.
America has witnessed countless talented pilots throughout its aviation history. These five made waves both throughout the larger flying community and within their own local one. Their bravery to reach for the sky and test what was previously thought impossible makes them heroes of aviation.
Historian Joseph Galante is a former state hospital staffer and current graduate student of mental health studies at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York. Lynn Rightmyer is a registered nurse and graduate of Hudson River’s nursing school, class of 1975. Out of Rightmyer’s 43-year tenure as a nurse, 19 years were spent on the wards at Hudson River. Both Rightmyer and Galante are history curators with the Hudson River State Hospital Nurses Alumni Association (HRSHNAA), from which many of the archival images in this book appear.
Our author Joseph Galante of Hudson River State Hospital has shared some of the history behind the subject of his book. Read on to learn more about one of New York State’s largest mental hospitals, and to see some pictures that didn’t make it into his new book.
For nearly a century and a half, Hudson River State Hospital stood proudly, set back along the rolling hills of its immense 752-acre property, serving the mentally ill. Over the hospital’s rise, decline, and closure, Hudson River meant many different things to countless people. The hospital was more than a place of refuge and rehabilitation for patients; it was a self-contained community for decades with the utmost dignified standards of care, serving as an exemplar for many institutions around the country. Hudson River was one of the main employers in Poughkeepsie for decades, housed the first nursing school in Dutchess County, and was a regular place of visit for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor.
A masquerade ball held at Hudson River.
The hospital began with plans to board and treat 300 patients of each sex, and would steadily grow to a capacity of nearly 6,000 in the 1950s, a size and capacity its chartering members could have never foreseen in 1867 when the hospital was officially organized. Hudson River’s park like grounds were penned by the renowned landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted, perhaps most famous for his design of Central Park in New York City. During the first few years, construction was underway on the Main Building, and much time was devoted to staff recruitment. A significant portion of the early attendant staff were immigrants, many Irish, who came to America in search of a new life and found work at Hudson River. As a result, generations of families would settle in the Dutchess County area and work at Hudson River. Attendants and nurses made up the bulk of staff in the first decades of operation with few physicians. Eventually, others professional fields emerged in the hospital such as occupational therapy, an activities department, and psychology, to name a few.
From the mid-19th through the later 20th century, Hudson River continued to be at the forefront of medical, psychiatric, and humanitarian treatment for individuals with mental illness. In the late 1960s under Dr. Snow at HRSH, 90 percent of the wards in the facility remained unlocked for patients, something few facilities can lay claim to historically.
Nurses outside the hospital’s main building.
In the court of public opinion, state institutions were often thought to be neglectful places where patients were sent to be warehoused; this was largely in part due to inaccurate media and movie representation. Hudson River was far from an inactive place where patients sat idly. The images, both long and not so long ago, clearly speak for themselves in articulating the spirit of activity, engagement, and poise so many of the patients and staff demonstrated.
While assembling this publication, it was the authors’ distinct pleasures to interview, reminisce, and converse with former staff, families, community members, and recipients of care living at or around Hudson River during its operational years. In looking at many of the images in this publication, it’s almost impossible to discern the setting as a psychiatric hospital over any other American community of the day. The common thread that seemed to sew each patch into the quilt of its story was compassion, a legacy that lives on in everyone touched by the facility. Although the old buildings now sit vacant, and rotting in a shell of their former grandeur atop a heavily tree lined hill, for many they still conjure fond memories.
Hudson River State Hospital.The Liberty Day Parade in South Hamilton.The river near Hudson River State Hospital.
Along with urban planning, landscape architecture has been responsible for some of America’s most recognizable parks, gardens, and cemeteries. Read on to learn more about where landscape architecture came from, and to see its legacy at work in the US today!
But what is landscape architecture?
Put simply, landscape architecture is a multi-disciplinary field that works to create picturesque landscapes, in both urban and rural environments. People who practice within the field are known as landscape architects, and must master several different fields of study, including botany, horticulture, architecture, and civil engineering.
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens park in Wichita, Kansas, which was designed by the Wichita Area Garden Council. Reprinted from Botanica, The Wichita Gardens by Keith Wondra (pg. 27, Arcadia Publishing, 2015).
Although the term “landscape architecture” only dates back to the 19th century, there had been people designing parks and gardens for centuries prior. Landscapers such as André Le Nôtre designed some of royalty’s most famous gardens, such as the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, which Le Nôtre restored during the rule of King Louis XIV. The modern terms of landscape architecture and architect were not popularized until the mid-19th century, when practitioners such as John Claudius Loudon began using the title to describe their work.
Within the US, landscape architects became more highly sought after as major cities began to grow, necessitating extensive amounts of urban planning. In places like New York City and San Francisco, massive urban parks were designed by famed architects like Frederick Law Olmsted and William Hammond Hall. Today, many of these city parks and gardens are still in existence, emphasizing the natural beauty within the surrounding scenery.
Our Favorite Fun Facts about Landscape Architecture
The long history of the landscaping field has given it is own share of quirky facts. Here’s a few pieces of interesting landscape trivia:
The Discipline’s Italian Heritage: Although John Claudius Loudon was one of the first to popularize “landscape architecture,” the term actually dates back to an 1828 book by Gilbert Laing Meason entitled On the Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy, where he attempted to draw parallels between the built form of traditional architecture and the natural form showcased in Italian paintings.
Australia’s Numerous Architects: Even though landscape architecture began in Europe and was popularized in the Western World, Australia actually has the highest number of landscape architects per capita in the world. The country is home to approximately 3,000 landscapers in a population of 24.13 million – that adds up to 12 landscapers per 100,000 Australians!
Windrush Gardens at Lousiana State University, designed by Ollie Brice Steele Burden. Reprinted from The LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens: A Living History by Faye Phillips courtesy of Jim Zietz, LSU University Relations (The History Press, 2010).
A Lucrative Profession: Landscape architects can be particularly successful if they work within the UK or the US, where they’ll make anywhere from approximately $50,000 – $65,000 USD annually. Aspiring architects can also study successfully within the United States, where there are several nationally-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in landscape architecture.
The World’s Largest Landscaper Employer: Although several developing countries like China have begun to recruit landscape architects, the US National Parks Service and US Forest Service employ the greatest number of landscape architects in the world. These architects work to help preserve and grow US National Parks and Forests nationwide.
The Most Popular Landscape Image: While one might guess the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest when asked for the most popular landscape picture, the distinction goes to photographer Charles O’Rear’s 1996 image Bliss, which was taken in Sonoma County, California. The image became widely known in 2001, when it was used as the default background image for the Windows XP operating system. Experts estimate that up to a billion people worldwide have seen Bliss at some point in their lives.
A Gallery of America’s Picturesque Landscape Architecture
Even though there are countless beautiful parks and gardens nationwide, we’ve collected some of our favorites to share here with you!
Perennial Border at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens in Stamford, Connecticut. Reprinted fromBartlett Arboretum & Gardensby S. Jane Von Trapp and Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens (pg. 57, Arcadia Publishing, 2017).An azalea plant within the Biltmore Gardens at the Biltmore Estate, which is managed by Biltmore Nursery. Reprinted from The Biltmore Nursery: A Botanical Legacyby Bill Alexander courtesy of the author (The History Press, 2007).Cherry Tree Lane near the Nature Interpretive Center in Liberty State Park, New York City. Reprinted from Liberty State Parkby Gail Zavian (pg. 29, Arcadia Publishing, 2014).Part of the entry drive to the Biltmore estate. The entirety of Biltmore’s grounds were designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Reprinted from The Biltmore Nursery: A Botanical Legacyby Bill Alexander courtesy of The Biltmore Company (The History Press, 2007).A section of Windrush Gardens at Louisiana State University. Reprinted from The LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens: A Living Historyby Faye Phillips courtesy of Jim Zietz, LSU University Relations (The History Press, 2010).
In the late 19th century, George W. Vanderbilt II opened a mansion on the outskirts of Asheville, North Carolina. Called Biltmore, it was the largest home to ever be built in America, and a wonder of Gilded Age architecture. After only a few decades, however, Biltmore sat almost empty, and was on the brink of being sold by the Vanderbilt family. With the help of Vanderbilt’s grandson William Cecil, Biltmore made a comeback in the 20th century, and has since grown into one of the largest historic tourist attractions in the United States.
The Gilded Age: Making Way for the Biltmore Estate
Breaking ground in 1889, Biltmore was the vision of George Washington Vanderbilt II, the youngest child of railroad tycoon William Henry Vanderbilt and his wife Maria Louisa Kissam. At the beginning of Biltmore’s construction, the United States had reached the peak of what historians now call the Gilded Age, a time period which lasted from the 1870s until the early 1900s. Named after Mark Twain’s novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, the era coincided with the second Industrial Revolution, which brought a rapid surge in wealth in several areas of the country. This increase in monetary capital led to a rise in the wages for skilled workers, and immigrants from around the world were soon pouring into the United States, looking to take their own cut of the growing national fortune.
OHEKA CASTLE in Long Island, one of the major Gilded Age mansions. Reprinted from OHEKA CASTLE by Joan Cergol and Ellen Schaffer, courtesy of OHEKA CASTLE Hotel & Estate (pg. 96, Arcadia Publishing, 2012).
However, this influx of settlers also caused a major wage gap, as there were not enough jobs to sustain the amount of people who arrived searching for work. As a result, many citizens and immigrants lived within poverty, while a lucky few amassed a seemingly infinite amount of affluence. This disparity between the rich and poor would remain until well into the 20th century.
Gilded Age Architecture and the Vanderbilt Estates
To showcase their success, the wealthy families of the Gilded Age often built elaborate and luxurious homes for themselves, and the time period soon became known for its lavish mansions and estates. Mansions like Oheka Castle in Long Island, New York, or the Conyers Estate in Greenwich, Connecticut stood as the ultimate symbols of affluence in the time period, and came to be envied by the masses.
However, these smaller estates paled in comparison to the creations of the famous Vanderbilt family. Perhaps the most successful Gilded Age clan, the Vanderbilts rose to prominence on the coattails (and fortune of) Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, who built the family’s railroad empire, including the illustrious New York Central Railroad. Not unlike the Kennedy family, the Vanderbilts were major American celebrities, and they led opulent lives closely followed by the public and media. Their homes were no exception to the greater mansion trend, and Biltmore became one of seven different Gilded Age Vanderbilt mansions, including:
Townhouse – The main residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, Townhouse (otherwise known as the Cornelius Vanderbilt II House) was located in Manhattan, New York. The largest private residence to have ever been built in the borough, Townhouse was constructed in 1883, but later demolished.
Woodlea – Built in Scarborough, New York by Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard, Woodlea was constructed from 1892 to 1895. The mansion was originally built as a 140-room private residence, but today serves as the Sleepy Hollow Country Club.
Marble House – Also located in Newport, Rhode Island, the Marble House was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt between 1888 and 1892 as a summer “cottage.” The mansion, which has 50 rooms, once commanded a staff of 36 servants, and cost nearly $300 million in today’s dollars to build.
Florham – The eighth largest house in the United States, Florham is located in Madison, New Jersey. Commissioned by Florence Adele Vanderbilt between 1893 and 1899 in the English-baroque style, the mansion now serves as the centerpiece to Farleigh Dickinson University.
Rough Point – Originally created for Frederick William Vanderbilt, Rough Point (like many Vanderbilt mansions) is located in Newport, Rhode Island, on a 10-acre estate. While other Vanderbilt mansions were left abandoned for several decades after their original owners vacated, Rough Point was inhabited until the 1990s, and is today open as a museum.
Hyde Park – Also known as the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Hyde Park was one of many homes owned by Frederick William Vanderbilt. The 54-room mansion is located in Hyde Park, New York, and was constructed from 1896 to 1899. Today, it serves as a historic home and museum, and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1940.
Building Biltmore: Constructing America’s Largest Home
While the Vanderbilt estates were all impressive in their own right, none could compare to Biltmore – at 175,000 square feet, Biltmore is still the largest private residence in the United States. Originally intended as the home of George W. Vanderbilt II, it was built in the French chateau style in Asheville, North Carolina, an area George had visited with his mother as a young man. Referring to Asheville as his “little mountain escape,” Vanderbilt soon took a note from his older siblings, and broke ground on his estate in 1889, which he chose to name after the family’s homeland in Holland.
George W. Vanderbilt II in 1914, and his wife, Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, pictured in 1898 before their wedding. Reprinted from Biltmore Estate by Ellen Erwin Rickman (pgs. 12 and 15, Arcadia Publishing, 2005).
At its inception, Vanderbilt envisioned Biltmore as a self-sustaining enterprise, not unlike traditional English estates. The estate, which included not only the mansion, but also 125,000 acres of land, would sustain itself with a small surrounding village, which Vanderbilt dubbed “Biltmore Village.”
Construction of the massive 250-room mansion and the surrounding estate took six years to complete, and George finally opened his new home to family and friends on Christmas Eve, 1895. Soon after, he married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser (a descendent of Peter Stuyvesant, the first governor of the Dutch colony in present-day New York) in 1898, and the two returned to live full-time at the Biltmore Estate.
The Vanderbilts lived for a couple of years at Biltmore together before welcoming their daughter (and only child), Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt, who was born in the mansion’s Louis XV room in 1900. Cornelia was subsequently raised on the estate, attending both school and weekly church services in Biltmore Village.
Cornelia Vanderbilt, also called “Tarheel Nell” in 1924. Reprinted from Biltmore Estate by Ellen Erwin Rickman (pg. 110, Arcadia Publishing, 2005).
George Vanderbilt’s dream of a self-sustaining estate seemed realized in the early days of Biltmore, but was nearly shattered after George’s untimely death in 1914. The estate, which was willed to Cornelia, became the responsibility of her mother Edith, as she was only 14 at the time of her father’s death.
Edith subsequently finalized the sale of 87,000 acres of the Biltmore estate to the federal government (a deal George had been working on before his death), which she sold on the promise that the land would remain unaltered. This land went on to become the nucleus of Pisgah National Forest. Other sections of the estate were sold off as well, including Biltmore Village, and Edith only occasionally stayed in the mansion while her daughter attended school elsewhere.
Biltmore: The War Years
The Vanderbilt family would not return full-time to Biltmore until Cornelia’s wedding in 1924 to the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil, a descendent of Queen Elizabeth I’s top-advisor William Cecil. John and Cornelia chose to reside at Biltmore, where they had two sons: George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (born in 1925), and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (born in 1928). Both boys were born in the Louis XV room of Biltmore like their mother, and were also raised on the estate.
During this time, the Vanderbilts (at the urging of the city of Asheville) opened up the Biltmore estate for the first time to the public, hoping to generate much needed revenue during the Great Depression. However, the house did not receive many visitors during these years, and by World War II the estate had once again closed to the public. During the war, Biltmore was used to house and protect various artworks, including works by Raphael, Rembrandt, and Gilbert Stuart’s famed portrait of George Washington.
Despite the estate’s economic hardships during the Great Depression, Cornelia’s sons spent many of their formative years split between an education in Europe, and holidays spent at Biltmore. The Cecil’s eventually divorced in 1934, and Cornelia left the estate, moving abroad to France. She never returned to Biltmore. John Cecil maintained residence at Biltmore, living in a suite of rooms until his death in 1954.
Rebuilding Biltmore
By the time William (better known as Bill) Cecil had graduated from Harvard University in the mid-20th century, Biltmore had fallen into a state of disrepair, and was losing over $250,000 USD per year. The estate was supported only by a profitable dairy operation, which could not sustain the losses of the mansion itself.
In an attempt to save the estate from being sold away from the family, Bill Cecil moved from a junior officer position with Chase National (now Chase Manhattan) to Biltmore with his wife and children at the end of the 1950s. Cecil’s quest to help rebuild Biltmore would prove a long one: Following the death of his mother in 1974, his older brother George inherited the already-successful Biltmore farm operations and estate grounds, while he inherited the mansion itself.
William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil in 1930, at approximately age 2. Reprinted from Biltmore Estate by Ellen Erwin Rickman (pg. 18, Arcadia Publishing, 2005).
Calling on his grandfather’s dream of a self-sustaining estate, Bill attempted to turn the Biltmore house into a desirable tourist destination during the 1960s. Using careful marketing techniques, Cecil attempted to promote Biltmore to the public. One notable example was quite direct: along with placing an eight-page ad for the house in local newspapers, Cecil published an offer for a free turn of the century recipe from the Biltmore kitchens. The offer eventually became so popular that Cecil began charging a quarter for the recipe, and the money (with self-addressed envelopes for the recipe) rolled in.
Not all of Bill’s marketing was direct, however – for example, when an eclipse occurred in Asheville during the 1960s, Cecil gave photos of the phenomenon (which had been difficult to obtain) to the press free of charge. The photos also just “happened” to include Biltmore’s silhouette. These efforts all focused on the tourism aspect of Biltmore, although Cecil did experiment with other projects to increase house revenue, like small farming experiments.
Cecil’s dedication to Biltmore finally began to pay off after eight years of managing the estate. In a 1968 financial report, Biltmore turned a meager profit of $16.34, which was a long call from losing a quarter of a million dollars per year. By 1979, over 350,000 people had visited Biltmore in a just a year, and as the estate began to turn a real profit, Bill looked for new ways to grow the estate, and develop it into a self-sustaining force. His contributions to Biltmore’s development are innumerable, but some highlights include:
The Biltmore Winery: Established in 1985, Cecil believed the estate needed a village winery to complete its image as a French chateau. Residing in Biltmore Antler Hill village, the winery is said to have been Bill’s favorite addition to the estate, and now sells over 90,000 cases of wine per year.
Deerpark Restaurant: Opened in 1979, the restaurant was opened to help drive tourists to not only visit, but also dine or stay on the estate. It is still in operation today as a Southern-style buffet restaurant.
Stable Café: Opened in 1987, the café is part of the larger Stable complex that Cecil also helped to construct. The restaurant continues to operate, offering mainly barbecue dishes.
Celebrating the estate’s 100th anniversary in 1995, Cecil opened several different attractions at the estate, including a welcome center for visitors, an ice cream parlor, and two restaurants: A Gardner’s Place, and the Bistro.
The Inn on Biltmore Estate: Opened in 2001, the four-star hotel was commissioned during Cecil’s time on Biltmore’s board of directors.
In addition to these achievements, Cecil is also credited with placing Biltmore on the National Register of Historic Places, which it joined in 1966.
Biltmore Today
Although Bill Cecil stepped down from day-to-day operations at Biltmore in 1995, he remained the chairman of the site’s board of directors until his passing in October 2017. However, the estate has not left family hands: run by Cecil’s children, the current CEO of Biltmore is Bill Cecil Jr., and Cecil’s daughter, Dini Pickering, assists in day-to-day operations.
The east elevation of Biltmore Estate in 1910. The grounds of the estate were designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Reprinted from Biltmore Estate by Ellen Erwin Rickman (pg. 32, Arcadia Publishing, 2005).
Today, Biltmore is visited by over one million people per year and is a subsidiary of Cecil’s company The Biltmore Company. This company oversees both the Biltmore mansion and its other associated business (such as the winery). The product of George W. Vanderbilt II and Bill Cecil’s labor of love, the estate profits approximately 50 million USD per year, and stands as a national icon to the Vanderbilt family and the Gilded Age period.
To learn more about Biltmore and the Vanderbilt family, check out the books below!
