The Hermitage (Nashville, Tennessee)

The Hermitage, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is a historic plantation and museum that was the home of Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States. The site encompasses a mansion, gardens, a museum complex, and the tomb of Andrew and Rachel Jackson.

Jackson purchased The Hermitage, originally a modest farm, in 1804. Over the next few decades, he transformed it into a large and prosperous plantation. He built the two-story mansion between 1819 and 1821, adding a distinctive columned portico in 1831.

The Hermitage reflects Jackson's evolving social and political standing. It provides insights into his personal life, his political career, and the institution of slavery in the antebellum South. Enslaved people were essential to the plantation's operation, cultivating crops like cotton and managing livestock. The site's interpretation explores the lives and experiences of these individuals, offering a more complete understanding of the plantation's history.

After Jackson's death in 1845, The Hermitage remained in his family until 1856, when it was sold to the State of Tennessee. It served as a Confederate training camp during the Civil War. In 1889, management of the property was transferred to the Ladies' Hermitage Association, which continues to operate the site as a museum and educational center.

Today, The Hermitage is a popular tourist destination and a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can tour the mansion, explore the gardens, learn about Jackson's life and legacy, and gain a deeper understanding of the history of the plantation and the lives of the people who lived and worked there, both free and enslaved. The site also hosts various events and educational programs throughout the year.