In 1889, George Vanderbilt began construction on his summer house at Asheville, North Carolina. He called the 175,000 square foot home his “little mountain escape.”
By the time it was completed in 1895, over 1,000 workers plus about 60 stonemasons had labored on the Gilded Age mansion.
Look at that detail.
It remains today the largest private residence in America. Most private residences don’t have a front door flanked by life sized stone lions. I’m obsessed with these lions.
Tomorrow I will show you some inside photos. Did you catch yesterday’s story about the grounds? Click here to read it.
Make the Journey Fun 
Looking forward to seeing inside photos. My grandfather was a stonemason in the early to mid 1900s
That must have been hard work!
A Russian oligarch could only drool in envy! …
Indeed!
Glad you could have what seems to have been a really nice time away! …
Thank you! It was a much needed break from reality!