Visit Three Presidential Homes in Tennessee

There's no better way to get a real feel for American history than to visit the homes of former presidents and Tennessee has three: The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home and plantation; the ancestral home of James Polk; and The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site.

When you see these homes, walk the halls, and examine the artifacts and exhibits the presidents become real people, almost like neighbors. You realize that the people who resided in the White House and guided our nation were more than just a collection of history book facts; they lived interesting and full lives that lead them to the highest office.

Visitors to Nashville can easily add trips to The Hermitage and the James Polk home, while folks heading to The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Gatlinburg area should make it a point to drop by The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site.

The Hermitage has been open as a museum since 1889 and through the years has welcomed more than 15 million visitors.

Jackson purchased most of the property for $3,400 in 1804. It was originally called "Rural Retreat," but Jackson soon renamed it "Hermitage." With slave labor, he farmed cotton, grew produce, and raised racehorses.

Visitors today tour the mansion, which started out as eight rooms and was added onto over the years. The tomb of the president and his wife is also on the grounds. There is a museum with both permanent and changing exhibits as well as an excellent film providing an overview of the estate.

In recent years The Hermitage has also become a center for archaeological research. Various buildings, including slave quarters, have been excavated and restored and are now open to visitors.

The Hermitage is about 12 miles from downtown Nashville. Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, $11 for students from 13-18 years old, $7 for children up to the age of 12, and kids five and under are free. The Hermitage is open daily, but hours change throughout the year. Check their website to plan your visit.

President James Polk's final residence was a mansion in downtown Nashville. This building, however, was destroyed in 1901. The only remaining Polk home-except the White House- is his ancestral home in Columbia, Tennessee, about 45 minutes south of Nashville.

The home dates to 1816 and was built by the president's father, Samuel Polk. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1818, the future president lived in the home until his marriage in 1824.

More than 1,000 objects that belonged to the president and his wife, including furniture and paintings, are on exhibit.

The home opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Closing times vary by season. Sunday hours are 1-5 p.m. throughout the year. Admission runs from $7 for adults to $4 for children. Kids under six are free.

While the houses of presidents Polk and Jackson are in private hands, the Andrew Johnson home is managed by the National Park Service.

There is an excellent visitor's center that houses a museum collection, Andrew Johnson's tailor shop, and shows a 13-minute orientation film. The home itself is open for tours every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day. Johnson lived in the home for 24 years and his descendants continued to live there until 1956. It is decorated extensively with original furnishings and belongings.

Also on the property is the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery. Johnson purchased the land in 1852 and requested that he be buried there.

Admission is free, but visitors need a complementary ticket to tour the home.

Sources:
http://www.nps.gov/anjo
http://www.thehermitage.com/
http://www.jameskpolk.com/new/polkhome.asp