Before he became the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson was a hot shot lawyer in Tennessee, which is where he built his mansion, The Hermitage, which was originally dubbed ‘Rural Retreat’ and is now a popular tourist attraction in Nashville.
The Hermitage is Nashville’s oldest museum. Since opening as a museum to the public back in 1889, almost some 15 million people have visited this home of former President Andrew Jackson. The Hermitage consists of more than just the mansion of Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel. Also on the grounds of the The Hermitage are slave quarters, a lush garden and a cabin dating back to 1804 which was occupied by Jackson and his wife prior to the construction and completion of the mansion.
The plantation, which encompasses all of the buildings and gardens, is some 1100 acres of land just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. In its heyday, the plantation housed an estimated 160 African American slaves, as Andrew Jackson was quite the successful lawyer in Nashville. Like any other plantation in the South during this time period, the slaves were there to tend to the land, the gardens, the livestock, to bale the cotton and to tend to the needs of the Jacksons and their guests. The slave quarters are actually still in tact on the grounds of the Hermitage.
In fact, the Hermitage includes over 30 historic buildings on the 1120 acres, several archaeological sites due to the previous presence of American Indians on the land, two springs, a formal garden, a beautiful tulip grove, a vegetable garden and a cotton patch. Together, all of these items make up The Hermitage, which is one of the largest open spaces in Nashville, Tennessee. Rachel Jackson’s tomb lies in the garden, which was reportedly her favorite place on the grounds. Andrew Jackson was also laid to rest there upon his death.
When you visit the Hermitage, there are several places on the grounds that visitors are allowed to tour. The mansion, which has been restored to its 1837 prime when Andrew Jackson returned to it upon the end of his presidency, is where the tour starts. Personal objects of Jackson’s are still in the mansion, including swords and books. Costumed historical tours guides are with you throughout this half hour tour.
The grounds of the Hermitage do not feature guided tours and visitors are allowed to roam about at their will. The grounds are where you can find the Hermitage garden, the tombs, the slavery sites and more. Paths are well marked for those walking, while there is the option to drive to the Tulip Grove and the Hermitage Church. From April through October, visitors can also opt for the horse-drawn wagon tour, which is an extra $7 per person.
Admission to the Hermitage is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students and $6 for children ages 6 – 12, with 5 and under getting in for free. Discounts are available for families of at least four, and groups of twenty or more. Parking is ample and free at the museum. No cameras are allowed inside any of the buildings.
Hours for the Hermitage are 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily from April 1 to October 15; and 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from October 16 to March 31. Also, the museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and the third week in January. Detailed directions can be found on the official website.
