G.W. Vanderbilt's Civil War, Titanic, WWII Connections (and other interesting information)

George Washington Vanderbilt II is named after his uncle who died young of tuberculosis contracted during the Civil War.  Not much of a connection, but there you have it.

George and Edith booked passage on the Titanic, but changed their minds at the last minute, sailed on another ship and arrived in New York before the Titanic.

During World War II the National Gallery of Art stored priceless paintings and sculptures in Biltmore's Music Room for safekeeping - even though the room was left unfinished by George Vanderbilt.  His grandsons had it finished in 1976.



Notice the upholstered ceiling beams.  I wonder what lucky person got the job of being interior designer for this room in 1976 ???

George was into scientific farming, stock breeding and forestry, establishing the first-of-its-kind forestry school in America.  The man that managed Biltmore's forests went on to become the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

Fredrick Law Olmsted, the man who was George's landscape architect, also designed the landscaping in New York's Central Park and the U.S. Capital grounds.

George's father was very much into art and George probably got his love of books and artwork from him.  Among other things, there are two Renoir's at Biltmore Estates.

George's grandfather made the first family fortune, and his grandsons run the Estate properties now, so I guess you could say George was the man in the middle.

Again, I found these photos at  http://www.romanticasheville.com/biltmore_house.htm