A Visit to the Hermitage

Hermitage: hermit's dwelling place, a place of relaxing retreat.

Just a few miles from our new home sits The Hermitage, the historical home of our 7th President, Andrew Jackson.  This past weekend my friend Duchess, her daughter and I visited the mansion.

 

Andrew and Rachel Jackson

Andrew Jackson was born March 15, 1767 in North Carolina.  His father died 3 days before his birth.  Jackson, at age 13, ran around battle fields as a courier for the military.  At the time, no one knew the woods and land better then the young boys of the town.  His mother died of Cholera, contracted from helping at a military hospital and brother died of heat stroke during the war, leaving him an orphan by the age of 14.  He apprenticed with an attorney and got his law degree.  Soon after he moved to TN.  He met and married his sweetheart, Rachel Donelson.  Rachels father cofounded Fort Nashborough in 1780, which would eventually become the city of Nashville, Tennessee.

Andrew and Rachel bought land and built a log home on it.  Below is their original home (left) and a slave cabin (right).

The Jackson's began getting involved in State and Local politics and needed a more suitable place to entertain.  In 1819, the two story Greek Revival home was built.  Today The Hermitage is reputedly our nation’s most authentically preserved early presidential home site.  The museum includes original artwork, furniture, textiles, personal items, wallpapers, and much more. 

 Walking up to the house

The Jackson's had no children of their own.  They adopted one of Rachel's brothers children as well as two orphaned Indian children.

Rachel Jackson died about 3 days before Andrew would become the 7th President of the United States.


Andrew Jackson Died on June 8, 1845 (aged 78)
at his Nashville, Tennessee home surrounded by his children and slaves.

 A slave cabin.  Two families would have lived here.  Each family might have had up to 10 people living in the  house.  Children would sleep upstairs (in the heat).

The back of the house and work yard.

This is one of my favorite photos of the president.  It isn't a painting, it hasn't been retouched.  It was taken in his last years.  It really shows his age as well as the path he has traveled in his life.