The Hermitage

It was bitter cold overnight, but we had planned to visit the Hermitage today and we would not be dissuaded. We did wait until after lunch which we hoped would be a little warmer than the 23 degrees we woke up to.  Gene at been to the Hermitage about 30 years ago and I was in the 5th grade at the time of my last visit.  I can’t say that we remembered much from our previous visits.  There have been several improvements over the past few decades and we wanted to renew our acquaintance with General Jackson.

The drive approaching the Hermitage

The front door

Andrew Jackson of Battle of New Orleans fame and 7th president of the United States, made his home right here in Davidson County.  That grand old southern plantation and mansion was and is known as “The Hermitage” and was home to Andrew and Rachel Jackson.  The Jackson’s lived on the farm for several years before the mansion was completed in 1819.  The original small, log “hermitage” has been restored as well as several other buildings.  Living history interpreters dressed in period attire guide your tour through the mansion and answer questions.  For the rest of the grounds and the museum, a very well produced audio presentation explains points of interests, gives a glimpse into the culture of the southern plantation, relates antidotal stories involving Andrew and Rachel, and invites you to pick cotton and sage.

This log house was the original Hermitage and was later
used as the slave quarters.

Path to Rachel's Garden

As I sat down to write about our experience today, I went to a couple web sites to refresh my memory of when the mansion was built.  (This old mind just can hang on to things it learns for very long.)  Although The Hermitage is not a National Park Service unit, I found their website to be excellent.  I have included their site for The Hermitage as a hot link here.  The narrative is very informative and there are a couple photos of inside the house which we were forbidden to take.

Andrew and Rachel's tomb

The Spring House

Before leaving the plantation grounds, we drove over to Tulip Grove, another stately, old southern mansion.  Tulip Grove was the home to Rachel’s nephew, Andrew Jackson Donelson.  Andrew and his young bride, Emily, moved with General Jackson to the White House when he was elected president.  Andrew Donelson became Jackson’s personal secretary and Emily acted as hostess for state functions.  (Rachel had died before Jackson took the office of president.)  Tulip Grove is now used for private parties and is not open for touring by the public.

Tulip Grove

Cotton ready for the picking

Despite the cold, we enjoyed our visit to The Hermitage.  I am, however, looking forward to warmer temperatures tomorrow.