This past Christmas my In-Laws got my wife and I as well as my brother and sister-in-law gift certificates to go to the Biltmore Estate. If you’re unfamiliar, it is the largest private estate in the US since Hearst’s Castle now belongs to the city of San Fancisco. I’ve now been able to see both William Hearst’s and George Vanderbilt’s (Biltmore) awesome visions. The trip to Hearst’s Castle was a few years before I got into the hobby, so it didn’t have the same impact. It was vastly larger however. There were no corners cut at Biltmore though. The woodworking was amazing. The home is 175,000 square feet with 60 bedrooms and 43 baths. Not to mention one of the oldest bowling alleys in the country. All of the molding and trim was quartersawn oak and huge! All of the furniture was detailed in every aspect. It would take me a life time to replicate any one piece assuming I could pull it off. There were several doors that were 8” thick solid oak. One was a pocket door that was 2 stories tall that operated on a pulley system. His home actually had electricity in the early 1900’s. I realize that I know little about this hobby but now have some amazing work to aspire to. Worth the trip if anyone is around the NC area.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
4 comments so far
Bulldog
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7 posts in 140 days
posted 133 days ago
Another historic “Castle” that is worth the time is Vikingsholm castle in Emerald on Lake Tahoe’
http://www.vikingsholm.org/index.html
I was impressed by the craftsmanship and the walls. Paneled in redwood. 1×18 – 10 CLEAR HEART!!
Check it out if your in the area.
-- Bulldog
Scott Bryan
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7762 posts in 210 days
posted 133 days ago
Hi Jeff,
I have never been to either one of these except in documentaries. And I was impressed them. I can only imagine how awesome it must be in person. With this visit as an inspiration I assume that you have a special project in the works??
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
USCJeff
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749 posts in 456 days
posted 132 days ago
Yeah Scott, I did come away with a couple little projects I could handle at this point. One was a cribbage board and case. If I’m correct, I think the board and case was made from cocobolo. The case had really nice hardware and I couldn’t tell if it was flocked or lined with felt from behind the ropes. The small pieces were marble. Rockler sells game pieces, so I might just go that route as they are very tiny and I’d prefer non-wood pieces.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
Mario
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686 posts in 439 days
posted 132 days ago
I would love to see that place, Thanks for the post we will have to put that on the list of possible trips this summer.
-- Hope Never fails