One of the mountains most famous historic sites is the Biltmore House located in Ashville.The world famous Biltmore House and Gardens was built by George Vanderbilt in 1895.Most of the original furnishings are being faithfully preserved and give the unique feeling that the family is still in residence. Filled with the art treasures Mr. Vanderbilt collected throughout his world travels the mansion is a museum in itself. Biltmore House took 6 years and 1,000 men to build. With just over 4 acres of floor space it contains 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 43 bathrooms, 34 bedrooms, and 3 kitchens. The massive stone spiral staircase has 102 steps and in its center suspended by a single bolt is an iron chandelier containing 72 electric light bulbs. TheBanquet Hall is 74 feet by 42 feet and the dinner table could seat as many as 64 guests. The meals served there were usually 8 courses and required 15 utensils per person to eat.


In these rugged, convoluted mountains(The Great Smoky Mountains) you'll find 900 miles of superlative trails, tracts of old-growth forest, views of undulating mountain ridges draped in hazy-blue, "smoky" tendrils of fog, and vivid reminders of the folkways of the Appalachians' early pioneers.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, a place that supports more than 4,000 species of plants, 130 trees, 65 mammals, 230 birds, and more species of salamanders than are found anywhere else on earth.
Congress established the park in 1934, and its importance is now recognized around the world as an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. The "Great Smokies" are great for skiing, hiking,canoeing,white river rafting, and many other exhilerating activities.