The Hermitage

It is said that Andrew Jackson was a welcoming host, often inviting others into his expansive mansion. Today, his home, known as The Hermitage, remains open for guests to visit, though it has been a long time since he’s walked the halls. 

Stop in at The Andrew Jackson Visitor Center to begin your journey inside the life of Andrew Jackson. After purchasing a ticket, visitors can watch a 15-minute introductory film on the former president and his home. The center features exhibits that will kickoff the experience. Also inside the enterance is a store for souvenirs and the Garden Gate Café.

The Hermitage mansion has been restored to its 1837 appearance and looks much as it did during Jackson’s day. The original wall treatments, portraits and other art pieces still hang on the walls inside the large home. The majority of the furniture found inside was purchased by the Jackson family. Personal items such as Jackson’s swords and books adorn the home for visitors to see. 

Costumed historical interpreters will guide visitors along the various rooms and hallways inside the mansion. The interpreters are stationed throughout the home to tell the story of Jackson, his family and his home. On average, the mansion tour lasts 20 minutes. 

The grounds on which the mansion rests offer just as much history as inside the historic home. During the self-guided tours, visitors can see the Hermitage garden, Jackson’s tomb and other sites that tell the stories of the slaves who lived on the grounds in addition to the farming life that took place centuries ago. 

Four seasonal tours, "The Hermitage Garden", "Changing Landscape," "Tour with the President " and "Restoring an American Landmark", run from May through October. During the individual tours, visitors will learn the history of the garden, what life was like during the 1800s and mixture of other lessons and stories.

For an additional fee, guests can see The Hermitage from another view: from a wagon. A half-hour tour of the grounds by a horse-drawn wagon takes visitors to the First Hermitage where Jackson lived from 1804 to 1821, to the site of the cotton gin and press, the Field Quarter and several other sites. Tickets to this attraction are $10 per person in addition to regular admission. Children 5 years old and younger ride free.

- by Leah M. Caudle , Nashville Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Leah M. Caudle

Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.