The Hermitage, Nashville

The red brick house pictured is the home of, Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson, born Rachel Donelson, (June 15, 1767 – December 22, 1828) was the wife of the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. It's on the same road as The Hermitage, Rachel's Lane.

The hermitage has 6 columns on the porch and the front is all white. even the bricks. These pics posted are not the hermitage. I was there this weekend.

My husband and I enjoy history, so this was on our list of things to do while in Nashville and I'm so glad we went! It was a rather hot day, but the grounds were beautiful. The audio tour was good and had a lot of information and allowed you to go along at your own pace. The home however was done by actual tour guides and no photography is allowed. The garden area could use some work and needs quite a bit of weeding and trimming, but it still had tons of flowers in bloom and shaded walking paths. We took a carriage ride through the back part of the property and enjoyed it though I think that they had too many people on one ride. There was no room to move around to take pictures but, it was either that or walk the whole thing and it was way to hot outside to even try. The interior has been very well maintained and I love the layout of it. For $20, you can purchase the floor plan from the gift shop. I wish we could have had longer in the home but we were moved through pretty quick. The Garden Cafe had excellent southern food for a moderate price..you must try the fruit tea! I only wish it had been cooler to enjoy all of the grounds, but maybe next time we're in the area we'll be able to go. All in all, I really enjoyed it and felt almost reverent walking the same paths that Andrew Jackson did. Hope you get a chance to go!

We went recently and it was very nice. They had a Southern restaurant, a theater, a museum, cabins and more. There is lot to do and see. It is a great place to visit for older people. We went when we were younger and more interested in taking a back pack. Just a reminder that you can't take backpacks in the home. There is a old map of Nashville. There is also an audio tour. Also, a garden where Andrew and Rachel Jackson is buried. I ought to come back soon.

We went on the wagon ride and were so glad that we did-it transported you back to the actual time-I could practically hear the sounds of the day-I'm sorry I can't remember the wagon driver's name but he was excellent and obviously enjoys his job-Thank you so much for keeping an important part of history alive. The cost was excellent when you consider that they charge $9.00 per person to ride around a 1/4 mile canal in the Grand Ole Opry Hotel-that was ridiculous! Thank you again-want to come back in the spring to see the garden in bloom.Oh, also, the interpreters in the house were great-very informative and fun.Noting your note below-you are welcome to delete the $9.00 comment-it just blew me away-

Walking the same paths, staircases and hallways as President Jackson and his family was an almost reverent experience. There was still the lingering feeling of a well-loved home, and the shared happiness of a family. I liked the personal tour guides as opposed to an audio tour, which must have been discontinued since some of the earlier reviews were written. However, I would have enjoyed it more if the same guide had stayed with the group for the duration. Unfortunately, one of our group's (very elderly) guides was not at all pleasant, and tended to lessen my enjoyment of the whole experience. It should be a requirement that these ladies at least appear cheerful at all times, and not patronize or embarrass the folks who have come there for an unforgettable time. The wagon ride was relaxing, fun and educational.

its about a man, a war hero general, a president, a leader of men. But mostly it is about a man who loved a woman so much that he went down to her grave every day for years, to feel close to her again, to talk to her again. Its about a house he built for her.very beautiful home with very knowledgeable guides. I had read up on the house and the people in it, so i had some very sophisticated questions, which they handled with a great deal of skill, adding little bits to what i had already read.

When we went to the Hermitage the first time, my now-28-yr-old son was only 9 years old. At that time, there were live docents escorting visitors through the home. The second time, several years later, the human guides had been replaced with headphones. ARRRGH! My two sons refused to wear the headphones and insisted on taking the tour "backwards" because they felt so dehumanized. I understand why museums and exhibits have adopted this horrid practice, but the artless manner of "pushing" people through like so much cattle is demeaning and frustrating. Having said all that, the beauty of the site and the respect paid to Gen. and Pres. Jackson and his place in history impressed upon my children the need for knowing one's history. Yes, Jackson had his faults and failings, but through this exhibit he became a person to my children rather than a picture of a dead white guy in the history textbooks. Go, if you can drag yourself away from the tourist traps of Nashville, Opryland Hotel and the music shows. You'll be glad you did.

I really enjoyed my day at the Hermitage. I was provided with an audio guide which was very helpful as I walked through. The grounds are beautiful and so very rich with history. The tour is very family friendly and what better way to reinforce a history lesson than actually taking the kids to see first hand where it took place. My family will definitely be planning another visit.

The Hermitage is a nice place to spend a few hours visiting the museum, wandering the grounds, and talking to the guides. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The mansion tour is a bit short, but there is plenty to see of a home well preserved from the early 1800s. The pamphlet and signs are brief but informative. My only problem with the visit was that several busses full of school kids arrived right after I did (9:30 AM on a Tuesday) and overran the place. They were gone by noon, though, and it was much more enjoyable after they left. Though the noisy throngs of kids were distracting, students from a local 4th grade class were stationed around the grounds dressed in period clothing and recited interesting facts about the grounds, the people who lived there, and life in the early 1800s. They were well-rehearsed and courteous. I'm not sure how often they do this, but it was a nice addition to the walking tour. The cafe had several moderately priced and tasty Southern favorites.