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The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, was the home of Andrew Jackson, who served as the 7th president of the United States. Jackson lived on the site from 1804 until his death in 1845.
History
The original property was selected by Jackson’s wife, Rachel, and until 1821 only consisted of a log cabin and two slave cabins. In 1821, a mansion was constructed and later renovated two times. Andrew Jackson III, Jackson’s grandson, was the last member of the family to live there, moving out in 1893. The plantation later opened to the public as a museum of Jackson’s life and the antebellum South.
Visiting
The Hermitage is open daily from 9am to 5pm. The Mansion Tour includes admission to the mansion and grounds, a guided tour of the mansion, and a self-guided audio tour of the grounds for US$27. Access to the grounds only is US$20. Prices are current as of February 2024. The Natchez Hills Winery tasting room is also on-site.
Mansion
The guided tour of the mansion is interesting. Visitors can see parlors, bedrooms, the library, Jackson’s office, the dining room, kitchen, and more. You learn about the house itself and a lot about Jackson’s life there. He only lived on the plantation sparingly until 1837, when he retired from public life.
Outbuildings
After the guided tour of the mansion, you can wander the grounds freely. There are several outbuildings to visit, including a smokehouse, springhouse, carriage house, and more. Interpretive panels explain the use and importance of each building.
Slave Buildings
Over 190 slaves lived on the property during Jackson’s lifetime, and some slave sites are still standing. A slave home was constructed with logs from the original Jackson family cabin, and a half mile trail takes you through the Field Quarter where slaves lived. Footprints of some of the buildings still remain.
Alfred’s Cabin is another slave home, probably built around 1841. It belonged to Alfred Jackson, who was born into slavery on the plantation in 1812. He continued to work there as a free man after Emancipation and died there in 1901.
Garden
A one acre garden near the home was a favorite of Rachel Jackson. There are several different types of flowers planted there, and it’s a nice place to walk.
Tomb
When Rachel died unexpectedly in 1828, Andrew had her buried in the garden and made preparations for a suitable tomb. The tomb, where both the Jacksons are buried, was completed in 1832 in the style of a Greek temple. A small family cemetery sits nearby.
