Andrew Jackson's Hermitage is the former plantation home and estate of the seventh President of the United States, located in the Hermitage community 15 miles east of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson purchased the initial farmland in 1804 and developed the property into a working cotton plantation; the current mansion was completed in its final Federal-style form in 1835 after a fire gutted the interior. Jackson returned to live at the Hermitage after his two presidential terms and died there in 1845. The estate has been open to the public since 1889, making it one of the earliest preserved presidential homes in the United States. The 1,120-acre property includes the mansion, formal gardens, Jackson's tomb, a reconstructed log cabin used as the original Hermitage dwelling, a smokehouse, and a working cotton field. Admission includes an audio-guided tour of the mansion's interior, which preserves period furnishings, original wallpaper, and personal effects including military memorabilia and correspondence. The audio guide provides commentary by archaeologists, historians, and a descendant of an enslaved person who lived on the plantation — a notable interpretive approach that presents American plantation history in fuller context. The formal garden is a boxwood-bordered English-style parterre designed with Rachel Jackson's influence; Jackson's tomb, a sandstone sarcophagus within the garden, is surrounded by the graves of his wife Rachel and other family members. The Hermitage is also an active archaeological site; ongoing excavations of the slave quarters have produced thousands of artifacts informing the museum's interpretation of plantation life beyond the primary narrative. The visitor center features a permanent exhibition contextualizing Jackson's presidency, military career, and the complex legacy of an enslaver who reshaped American democratic institutions.
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 9 AM–5 PM (last entry 4 PM); closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; self-guided audio tour of mansion and grounds included
Location
4580 Rachel's Ln, Hermitage, TN 37076
36.2196, -86.6108 View on map
Highlights
- Federal-style mansion (completed 1835) with original furnishings, period wallpaper, and Jackson-era personal effects
- Audio tour featuring commentary from historians and descendants of enslaved people who lived on the plantation
- Jackson's tomb and formal English-style boxwood parterre garden adjacent to the rear of the mansion
- Active archaeological site with ongoing excavation of slave quarters producing thousands of period artifacts
- 1,120-acre estate including a reconstructed log cabin, smokehouse, and working cotton field
Tips for visiting
- The audio tour device is included with admission and essential for the mansion — collect it at the visitor center before entering the grounds
- Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for the mansion audio tour, tomb, garden, and visitor center exhibition at a comfortable pace
- Weekday mornings are significantly quieter than weekends; school groups tend to peak on Mondays and Fridays
- The grounds are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas — confirm current hours at thehermitage.com before visiting
- Wear comfortable walking shoes — the full estate involves approximately 1 mile of walking on gravel and grass paths
When to visit
Spring (April through May) when the formal garden's boxwood and flowering plants are at peak and fall (October) for pleasant walking temperatures are the most visually rewarding seasons. Weekday mornings minimize overlap with school group visits.
Accessibility
The visitor center and mansion main floor are accessible via ramp entry. The mansion audio tour is available in an accessible format. The formal garden paths are primarily gravel and may be challenging for standard wheelchairs. Electric cart tours for mobility-impaired visitors are available by arrangement — inquire when booking admission.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage take?
Plan 2 to 3 hours for the mansion audio tour, formal garden, tomb, and visitor center exhibits. Walking the full estate grounds adds 30 to 45 minutes.
Does the Hermitage address the history of enslaved people on the plantation?
Yes. The museum explicitly addresses the lives of the more than 150 enslaved people who lived and worked at the Hermitage. Ongoing archaeological work at the slave quarters informs active interpretive programming throughout the estate.
Is photography permitted at the Hermitage?
Photography is welcome throughout the grounds, garden, and tomb area. Interior mansion photography is generally restricted to protect historic furnishings from light exposure — confirm the current policy at the visitor center.