The Hermitage – Home of Andrew and Rachel Jackson
The Hermitage, the home of the 7th president of the United States Andrew Jackson rates as the fourth-best Presidential Site in the Nation. Only George Washington’s Mount Vernon, John and John Quincy Adam’s Old House at Peacefield, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have higher ratings. Last week as a stop-over on a longer trip we spent 4 hours touring his mansion home and 1000-acre farm. If you visit Nashville you might consider taking a tour.
Unfortunately, it was a hot, July day when we visited but many of the buildings are air-conditioned and we found shade under trees along the nature trail. We enjoyed learning about life on a working farm in Middle Tennessee during the first half of the 1800s.
We purchased tickets and picked up headsets for the audio tour which is included in the admissions price. We saw a new film “Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm”. The Hermitage is kid-friendly with an audio tour narrated by Poll the Parrot (based on Andrew Jackson’s actual pet parrot). Along the way, there are touchscreen players that incorporate facts and games into the tour. As you tour you will see signs with details and 3-digit numbers that you type into your hand-held device (we got headphones, too) to hear the proper audio clip detailing the area, its function and history, people’s lives, and restoration efforts. As an adult, I enjoyed listening to Poll the Parrot give insight from a child’s perspective. Our 9-year-old granddaughter, HDH enjoyed Poll the Parrot, too!
We began the tour with a short movie about the life and accomplishments of Andrew Jackson then roamed the descriptive murals along the walls. They even display Andrew Jackson’s uniform and Sarah’s evening gown. Next, we took a docent-led tour of his beautiful home. There was a 20-minute wait leading into the mansion but it was worth it. The tours are for 12 people so you get a good view of each room and can actually hear the tour guide. Strollers are parked outside and you do walk up and down stairs to tour the second floor.
After the tour of the home, we went out to see the mansion’s kitchen and storage areas then the lovely flower garden that Jackson created for his wife, Rachel (Their love story is very interesting!) I loved the flower garden especially the Globe Amaranth. Gotta find seeds to add these beauties to my garden!
Roam all the way to the back of the gardens to the family cemetery where Andrew Jackson and many of his family members.
Paths lead to various buildings such as the cabin that once belonged to Albert, one of Jackson’s former slaves and the log cabin where the Jackson family lived before building the mansion. These are original buildings. The audio tour continues a descriptive narration of the lives of the inhabitants of The Hermitage. The day we visited a tanner had set up and was giving a narrative and answering questions.
You can take a wagon ride and listen to stories by the drivers, explore the spring house, hike the trails in the woods, and pick cotton in late summer. We finished our tour with a stop at the gift store that carries books, toys, and souvenirs about President Jackson and other historical figures. Plus there is a section that sells seeds, jams, honey, candy, jewelry, household and gardening items.
Next, to the bookstore, you’ll find a restaurant, The Kitchen Cabinet Café and it’s a great place to eat. Picnic tables are also nearby.
What: The Hermitage
Website: https://thehermitage.com
Where: 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage, TN 37076
Times: October 16 – March 14
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
March 15 – October 15
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Admission: $20.00 Adults
$17.00 Seniors (Age 62+)
$15.00 Students (Age 13-18)
$10.00 Children (Age 6-12)
$10.00 Veterans
FREE Active Military and Children (5 & under)
$54.00 Family Pass (2 adults and 2 children/students under 18 years of age)
