The Hermitage, Nashville, TN Part 3 - 27 Apr 2014

Andrew Jackson was the first president born in the United States.  All previous presidents had been born prior to Independence.  His house, The Hermitage, was quite near our RV park in Nashville.

He was an unrepentant slave owner  This is a reproduction of a slave quarters on the grounds of the Hermitage.

 One of his redeeming characteristics was that he adored his wife, Rachel, despite the (true) allegations of her, initially, bigamous relationship with him.  These mannequins wear the garb they would have worn to a formal affair.  

They would have likely ridden there in this carriage, a real personal luxury vehicle in its day.

Penny had been here before and remembered this entry as being lined by much larger trees.  There was a reason for that.  Over a thousand trees were blown down in a 1998 storm.

 This is the front of the Hermitage.  This was its final iteration after several remodels.  Several tourists are greeted outside by one of the guides in traditional garb.  

 Once inside you are greeted by these beautiful murals depicting Greek legends.  Photos were not allowed inside, but we found this one online.

 It is, indeed, a beautiful, and beautifully restored house, as seen from the back.

It had several amenities, such as this comparatively large spring house.

The garden was Rachel's favorite spot.

Unfortunately, she sickened and died in April of 1828, shortly before Jackson's first Presidential Inauguration.  She was buried at the edge of her beloved garden.  Jackson joined her in 1845.

We thought that the Ladies Hermitage Foundation did a masterful job.   Here, modern amenities, such as air conditioning, transformers, and other modern mechanisms were hidden behind this hedge.

Andrew Jackson was a controversial figure at best.  He is considered the founder of the Democratic Party, but was also responsible for the Trail of Tears which was the result of the forced displacement of several tribes of Native Americans.  He avoided, for a while, the breakup of the Union due to his masterful handling of the Nullification Crisis, but his demolition of the Federal Bank resulted in a severe economic downturn for which Van Buren's subsequent administration was blamed.  What can't be denied was that he was an important part of American history.  His home was well worth visiting.