ASHEVILLE, NC — Biltmore House, the extravagant mansion built by Cornelius Vanderbilt’s grandson in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, makes the White House look like a gardener’s cottage.

George Washington Vanderbilt opened his new home — the largest private residence in the U.S. — in 1895 with what must have been a resplendent Christmas party. Guests dined in a medieval-themed banquet hall complete with thrones, flags, and ancient tapestries. A 40-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree completed the decorations.

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