Biltmore Forest School
Encyclopedia
The Biltmore School of Forestry was the first school of forestry
in North America. The school of "practical forestry" was founded by Carl A. Schenck
in 1898 on George W. Vanderbilt's
Biltmore Estate
near Asheville
, North Carolina
.
to Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in North Carolina to work managing the vast expanses of forest lands on the estate's property. Schenck replaced Gifford Pinchot
as Vanderbilt's estate forester, and immediately began introducing new scientific management and practical forestry techniques. As Schenck worked throughout Vanderbilt's vast forest lands in Western North Carolina, he found himself explaining to local young men what he was working on and why it was important to maintain healthy forests. The growing interest in forestry work Schenck found among the locals caused him to look into starting his own forestry education program.
With the permission of Vanderbilt, Schenck established the Biltmore School of Forestry using abandoned farm buildings on the estate grounds. This was the first school of forestry in North America. According to The Biltmore Company
, the school "opened its doors on September 1, 1898." According to Steven Anderson, President of the Forest History Society
, this was just "a few weeks" before the opening of the New York State College of Forestry at Cornell University
, under the leadership of Dr. Bernhard Fernow.
The Biltmore School of Forestry offered a one-year course of study, and the curriculum focused on providing traditional classroom lectures in silvicultural theory supplemented with extensive hands-on, practical forest management field training. Schenck's students spent most afternoons in the forest doing hands-on work and directly applying the theories they had learned in the classroom. Schenck was a demanding, but engaging professor, and his students took to him immediately, absorbing as much of the scientific forestry theories as they could.
Despite the school's short existence, it laid the foundation for American forestry education. Graduates of the Biltmore School of Forestry became the first generation of American professional foresters. Schenck's theories of sustainable forestry
greatly influenced the field, remaining important long after his death, in 1955. Today, the school continues to be celebrated as "the cradle of forestry in America" on Vanderbilt's former lands in Pisgah National Forest
, and several of the remaining buildings can be seen on trails that are part of the Cradle of Forestry in America
site.
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
in North America. The school of "practical forestry" was founded by Carl A. Schenck
Carl A. Schenck
Carl Alwyn Schenck was a pioneering forestry educator in North America, known for his contributions as the forester for George W. Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate, and the founder of the Biltmore Forest School in 1898, near Asheville, NC....
in 1898 on George W. Vanderbilt's
George Washington Vanderbilt II
George Washington Vanderbilt II was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family, which had amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. He built and owned Biltmore, the largest home in the United States.-Biography:The eighth son and youngest...
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore House is a Châteauesque-styled mansion near Asheville, North Carolina, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States, at and featuring 250 rooms...
near Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
History
In 1895, Carl A. Schenck was brought by George W. Vanderbilt from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in North Carolina to work managing the vast expanses of forest lands on the estate's property. Schenck replaced Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
as Vanderbilt's estate forester, and immediately began introducing new scientific management and practical forestry techniques. As Schenck worked throughout Vanderbilt's vast forest lands in Western North Carolina, he found himself explaining to local young men what he was working on and why it was important to maintain healthy forests. The growing interest in forestry work Schenck found among the locals caused him to look into starting his own forestry education program.
With the permission of Vanderbilt, Schenck established the Biltmore School of Forestry using abandoned farm buildings on the estate grounds. This was the first school of forestry in North America. According to The Biltmore Company
The Biltmore Company
The Biltmore Company in Asheville, North Carolina, owns and operates 8,000 acres of land and business. In 1999, the company formed a new business group, the Biltmore Estate Brands Group....
, the school "opened its doors on September 1, 1898." According to Steven Anderson, President of the Forest History Society
Forest History Society
The Forest History Society is an American non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of forest and conservation history. The society was established in 1946 and incorporated in 1955....
, this was just "a few weeks" before the opening of the New York State College of Forestry at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, under the leadership of Dr. Bernhard Fernow.
The Biltmore School of Forestry offered a one-year course of study, and the curriculum focused on providing traditional classroom lectures in silvicultural theory supplemented with extensive hands-on, practical forest management field training. Schenck's students spent most afternoons in the forest doing hands-on work and directly applying the theories they had learned in the classroom. Schenck was a demanding, but engaging professor, and his students took to him immediately, absorbing as much of the scientific forestry theories as they could.
The Biltmore Forest Fair
In November 1908, Schenck hosted the Biltmore Forest Fair, designed to demonstrate the accomplishments and possibilities of scientific management and practical forestry techniques, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Forestry School. The three-day festival ran from November 26-29, exhibiting theories of forestry taught at the school. Attendees were given forest plantation tours with Schenck as their guide, and received detailed lessons on forestry practices, planting techniques, logging operations, seed regeneration, soil composition and more. The guests included foresters, lumbermen, furniture manufacturers, botanists, university professors and others. The fair successfully demonstrated Schenck’s forestry and conservation practices, with various newspaper editorials from the region subsequently praising him.The School's End and Legacy
In 1909, Schenck left his job as forester of the Vanderbilt estate. At this time he was forced to close the doors of the original Biltmore School of Forestry, as he could no longer operate it on Vanderbilt's property. Schenck continued the school through 1913, though, traveling with his students and operating in various locations, including in Germany.Despite the school's short existence, it laid the foundation for American forestry education. Graduates of the Biltmore School of Forestry became the first generation of American professional foresters. Schenck's theories of sustainable forestry
Sustainable forest management
Sustainable forest management is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management uses very broad social, economic and environmental goals...
greatly influenced the field, remaining important long after his death, in 1955. Today, the school continues to be celebrated as "the cradle of forestry in America" on Vanderbilt's former lands in Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest
Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Pisgah National Forest is completely contained within the state of North Carolina...
, and several of the remaining buildings can be seen on trails that are part of the Cradle of Forestry in America
Cradle of Forestry in America
The Cradle of Forestry in America is a 6,500 acre Historic Site within the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The site includes the Forest Discovery Center, which features exhibits and a movie about forestry and forest conservation history, a gift shop and cafe...
site.
External links
- Cradle of Forestry in America - official site
- Inventory of the Biltmore Forest School Images, circa 1890s - 1988 in the Forest History SocietyForest History SocietyThe Forest History Society is an American non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of forest and conservation history. The society was established in 1946 and incorporated in 1955....
Library and Archives, Durham, NC - Biltmore Forest School Photo Collection (Forest History Society)
- Schenck Manuscript Photo Collection (Forest History Society)
- Cradle of Forestry Dedication Ceremony
- A Forest Fair in the Biltmore Forest
- November 26, 1908: The Biltmore Forest Fair