National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

THIRD FLOOR
Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
The third floor contains five additional guest bedrooms (see ill. 9). The stairway from
the Second Floor Hall leads to the third floor hall. These rooms survive with most of the
original textiles and wall coverings. They are not currently included on tours of the mansion. In
many cases the furnishing and decoration of these rooms is more lavish than the second floor
guest rooms, certainly in the choice of wall covering for the Lavender and Empire Bedrooms.
There do not seem to have been any changes to these rooms in 1906 or at any other time under
Vanderbilt ownership. When the National Park Service assumed ownership, the bathrooms on
the third floor were altered to accommodate stall showers for use by Franklin Roosevelt's Secret
Service Staff who occupied the servants' quarters.
Hall
The third floor hall is identified as the Guest's Hall on the McKim, Mead & White floor
plan. 820 It provides access to the third floor guest rooms and bathrooms. A separate hall was
used by the housekeeper and servants to enter their quarters.
The architectural features including the white painted dado below the chair rail, the
cornice, and door trim were designed by McKim, Mead & White and executed by Herter
Brothers. 821 The walls are painted green above the chair rail. 822
The hall was furnished with a combination of Herter Brothers furniture brought from
the Vanderbilts' New York house 823 and antiques purchased by Stanford White. The furniture
includes four upholstered chairs with tassel fringe attributed to Herter Brothers, 824 two
armchairs, an ebonized two-tier table by Herter Brothers, a pair of ebonized and inlaid side
chairs by Herter Brothers, 825 and a pair of green armchairs with eagles purchased by Stanford
White. 826
820 See drawing #11, by Hall.
821 Herter Brothers Sales Ledger, 1898-1904, vol. 18, 15, Entry June 23, 1898: "Norcross Brothers for F.
W. Vanderbilt."
822 According to Peggy Albee this has been repainted and the original paint was more mottled in
apearance.
823 Herter Brothers Bill of Sales dated June 15, 1878 to W.H. Vanderbilt, 459 Fifth Avenue, Bill in the
collection of Biltmore, Asheville, NC. Frederick probably inherited some or all of this furniture when his
father gave him the house at 459 Fifth Avenue:
"2 Large Divans with loose cushions in olive velours
1 small outer Divan with jardiniere top in olive velours
2 Lady Chairs in olive velours
2 Armchairs in olive velours
2 light chairs in fancy covering."
824 The casters are black rubber and marked India Rubber Co., N.Y. The upholstery on these chairs
matches the original drapery from the Living Room - cut and voided velvet. These chairs are similar in
form although the upholstery appears to be slightly different from chairs in the parlor of 459 Fifth
Avenue, photographed when William H. Vanderbilt owned the house. This photograph is in the
collection of Biltmore.
825 One of these side chairs is visible in a photograph of the Parlor at 459 Fifth Avenue, William H.
Vanderbilt Residence, later Frederick W. Vanderbilt Residence, New York City. The photograph BHA4-
02045 is in the collection of Biltmore. The photograph probably dates to circa 1880. It also appears on a
bill from Herter Brothers to William H. Vanderbilt dated June 15, 1878. The bill is also in the collection of
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