E37: Biltmore: America’s Biggest Mansion

Denise Kiernan shares the extraordinary history of Biltmore House, America's largest private home, and the powerful legacy of the Vanderbilt family during the Gilded Age.

Guest Bio: Denise Kiernan is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and producer whose books include The Last Castle, The Girls of Atomic City, and We Gather Together. She hosts “Craft: Authors in Conversation” and lives in Asheville, North Carolina, near the Biltmore Estate.

Topics Discussed:

• The construction and scale of the Biltmore Estate
• George and Edith Vanderbilt’s legacy
• Gilded Age opulence and class disparity
• Early conservation efforts and the birth of Pisgah National Forest
• The role of women like Edith Vanderbilt and Sarah Josepha Hale in shaping American history
• The economic decline of old money families and estate preservation

2 Best Quotes:

• "The Biltmore House is the largest house in America—ever. Nothing has surpassed it."
• "History makes you ask questions of the present—what do we want to preserve for future generations?"

📺Watch on YouTube ➡️ https://youtu.be/jSSSXJ9SE24

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
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