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Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds – tickets, prices, discounts, timings, what to expect

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds in Nashville, Tennessee, is America’s first presidential museum dedicated to the country’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson. 

The hermitage, spread across 1120 acres (5420800 square yards) of land, holds an array of exhibits, gardens, and rooms offering an opportunity to delve into the personal and political life of the former president. 

Feeling excited already? Then keep reading to know more about the hermitage and why a visit to this historical site is totally worth it.

In this article, we’ll share everything you should know before booking tickets for Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds.

Top Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds Tickets

# Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds tickets # The Nashville Sightseeing Day Pass

Table of contents

What to expect, where to book tickets, how do online tickets work, andrew jackson’s hermitage grounds ticket prices, discount tickets, andrew jackson’s hermitage grounds tickets, how to reach, best time to visit andrew jackson’s hermitage grounds, how long does the tour take, faqs about andrew jackson’s hermitage grounds.

Dive deep into the presidential history of America at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds.

Explore The Andrew Jackson Visitor Center and Hermitage Museum, housing important exhibits and archaeological artifacts. 

See exhibits including ‘Born for a Storm’ and ‘First Hermitage: Worlds Apart, Side by Side’.

Take a relaxing stroll through the gardens of the mansion.

Do pay a visit to Jackson’s Tomb, preserving his dead remains. 

Only when you come to this hermitage, you’d learn more about inhuman practices like slavery in the 19th century.

After the tour, head to a wine tasting at Natchez Hills Winery at discounted prices. 

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Tickets for Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds are available online and at the ticket office at the attraction.  

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointment.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Go to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds booking page , select the number of tickets and date, and book.

Upon payment, the tickets will be emailed to you.

On the day of your visit, show your ticket at the entrance for admission.  

The Ground ticket of Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is priced at US$20 for all adults aged 13 and above. 

Children between five and 12 years pay US$13 for entry. 

Kids (five to 12 years) and military personnel can get reduced tickets for Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. 

Toddlers under five years need not buy any tickets and can enjoy everything for free.

This ticket includes admission to the Andrew Jackson Center, featuring a film on Jackson as well as access to the museum and exhibit. 

Guests are allowed to explore gardens, trails, historical markers, and other historic buildings in the hermitage.

This is a self-guided tour ticket, and you’ll be exploring everything at your own pace. 

However, this ticket does not provide Andrew Jackson Hermitage Mansion tours. You must buy a separate ticket in order to explore the mansion.

Stop at Natchez Hills Winery for wine tasting at great discounts.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (13+ years): US$20 Youth Ticket (5 to 12 years): US$13 Child Ticket (up to 4 years): Free

Discover the vibrant rhythm of Nashville with The Nashville Sightseeing Day Pass . Get up to 58% off admission prices to family attractions and unique activities. Create a personalized itinerary with 2 to 7 attractions for 1, 2, 3, or 4 consecutive days. Unravel mysteries in an Escape Game, explore history at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, or snap selfies with A-list celebrities at Madame Tussauds. The pass is valid for a year from purchase. 

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is situated in the heart of Davidson County, Tennessee, US. 

Address: 4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, TN 37076, United States. Get Directions

You can get here by public or private transportation.

Take Bus no. 6 and get down at Lebanon Pike & Shute Ln EB bus stop, located just a few steps from the historical museum. 

If traveling by car, turn on Google Maps and get started. 

Click here to view nearby car parking lots.

The Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds is open from 9 am to 6 pm.

The last entry is at 5 pm. 

The best time to visit  Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds is as soon as it opens at 9 am.

Upon early arrival, you can explore the historical site conveniently without encountering a large crowd.

On weekends, the site is packed with guests, hence consider visiting on weekdays when fewer guests are around. 

The Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds tour lasts for about 2 hours. 

Visitors holding an immense interest in history, art, and culture stay a little longer, exploring every nook and cranny of the historical site.

Here are some questions visitors generally ask before visiting Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds.

You can buy tickets online or at the ticket office. Remember, it closes at 5 pm.

Tours at The Hermitage happen rain or shine, and no refunds will be issued.

Guests can bring their own wheelchairs, but not all areas of the historical site are accessible by wheelchair owing to its old construction. 

The Museum Store is open from 9 am to 6 pm.

Yes, FKS Kitchen, located in the Andrew Jackson Center, is the only onsite restaurant. It is open from 9 am. to 4 pm.

The historical hermitage was built by Joseph Reiff and William C. Hume.

Sources # Thehermitage.com # Visitacity.com # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Nishtha Nogia

Nishtha Nogia loves to explore new places with family and friends. She travels to weave stories packed with fun, surprises, and laughter. For her, traveling is all about hogging local cuisines, interacting with people, and creating lifelong memories. She has a travel bucket list ready and is waiting to start ticking them one by one. Favourite Cities: Seoul, Paris, New York, and Istanbul.

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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Visiting Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

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If you’re in the Nashville area, be sure to make a stop at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage . This home of the seventh president of the United States is a great way to get a glimpse of life in the early 1800s. While Andrew Jackson’s legacy is complicated, I always want to learn more and teach my kids about American history.

Make no mistake, Jackson’s views on Black people and American Indians are absolutely abhorrent. My heart breaks when we visit plantations where enslaved people worked and lived. I’m sick to my stomach when learning more about the atrocities committed against American Indians, including Jackson’s removal policies and the Trail of Tears.  But somehow, avoiding the history of what happened doesn’t seem right. We have to learn from the past to move forward. Pretending it didn’t happen or “wasn’t that bad” is not an option. So, we visit historical sites and learn what we can.

Arriving at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

Because of our reserved ticket, we ended up doing the visit a tad out of order. We went straight to the mansion to make our tour on time. When you arrive, you’ll park your car and head toward the visitor center area. Once you’re checked in, you can go to the museum or the grounds. Our tour was starting in a few minutes after our arrival, so we walked, briskly I may add, to get to the mansion tour on time. It was also an overcast and sometimes rainy day, so we hoped to make it to the porch of the mansion before any raindrops!

The path to the tour will lead you in front of the house, and then you’ll end up on the opposite side to join the tour.

You’ll then wait on the porch until it’s time for your tour to begin.

Here is the view from the porch.

Soon, our tour began. You aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, so you’ll have to take my word for it–it’s beautiful. The two-story Greek revival mansion was built in 1819 on land Jackson had purchased in 1804. Jackson called it the Hermitage because it was a place where he could relax and be a hermit, so the story goes. Originally, Jackson and his wife, Rachel, lived in cabins on the land. The farm grew, thanks to the work of Jackson’s enslaved people he brought with him. In 1813, Jackson was commissioned to fight in the War of 1812 due to his achievements in the Creek War. When he came home to the Hermitage after the war, the Battle of New Orleans had made him a superstar.

In 1828, Jackson was elected president over incumbent John Quincy Adams. Just before the inauguration, Rachel died at the Hermitage. This is actually an intriguing story. The Jacksons had been facing some political backlash during Jackson’s presidential campaign. Apparently, Rachel had been married before, and she thought her husband had filed for divorce when they separated. Well, apparently not. When Rachel married Andrew, she was still technically married to her first husband. When political foes in Washington found out, the rumors and accusations concerning Racheal’s character exploded.

She was also a bit backwoodsy, so people talked about that, questioning her future behavior in what we would now call the White House. When Jackson was elected, Rachel dreaded going to Washington to be surrounded by these people. She is quoted as saying, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than live in that palace in Washington.” You see, she would rather die than live in Washington. And she did! She died in 1828 of what seems to be a heart attack or similar ailment.

The Jacksons had no children of their own, but they adopted a nephew and called him Andrew Jackson, Jr. They were also guardians to other children. While Jackson was president, Jackson, Jr., cared for the Hermitage.  He married a woman named Sarah, and they had children. Additionally, other family members would call the Hermitage home over the years.  When Jackson returned from Washington, the mansion had undergone renovations and recovery from a fire. This is how we know the Hermitage Mansion today. Jackson lived there for the rest of his life. He died in 1845, and the home remained in the possession of Jackson, Jr. until 1856 when the mansion and some land was sold to the State of Tennessee. The family stayed on to care for the property until 1887, though Jackson, Jr. died during the Civil War.

Because there is such a close connection to the time the family was there and its sale to the state to preserve the property and to manage Jackson, Jr.’s debts, there are many actual artifacts from Andrew Jackson and his family in the mansion. So many historical places are discovered and/or preserved at a later time that it’s impossible to track down actual artifacts of the inhabitants. Not so at the Hermitage.

References:

“Andrew Jackson’s the Hermitage–Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary.” Nps.gov , 2023, www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/jackson_hermitage.html#:~:text=In%201804%2C%20Andrew%20Jackson%20purchased,log%20buildings%20on%20the%20property. Accessed 31 July 2023.

“Rachel | Andrew Jackson’s Wife and Love of His Life.” The Hermitage , 26 June 2019, thehermitage.com/learn/andrew-jackson/family/rachel/. Accessed 31 July 2023.

The Enslaved Quarters and Grounds of the Hermitage

After the guided tour of the mansion, you are free to roam the grounds. At the end of our tour, it started raining. We did our best to explore, but we were probably quicker than usual to stay out of the rain.

Here is the back of the mansion.

We initially looked at some of the structures near the mansion, like the kitchen. Before long, though, we ventured out into the rain to see the First Hermitage where the Jacksons lived first before it was converted to a slave’s cabin and some of the slave quarters at the edge of the premises.

This part of the Hermitage is educational and sad. When Jackson died, he had 150 enslaved people on the plantation. There is a wagon tour you can book to learn more about the enslaved people at the Hermitage, but we didn’t take this tour during this visit.

We did walk down to the spring house.

We walked around this area until it really started to pour. We then headed straight to the museum, skipping his grave and family burial site.

The Hermitage Museum

We also learned that he was often a fighter, and he was involved in a duel that resulted in his enemy’s death and a bullet stuck in Jackson’s chest for the rest of his life. Actually, we may have learned that on our ghost tour in Nashville.

But we can’t ignore how he profited from slavery and treated his enslaved people cruelly and as “less than” in every way. And we can’t ignore how his Indian removal policies caused the deaths of thousands of American Indians, all in the name of westward expansion, for resources and land for white people. There are those who say that you can’t judge history through a contemporary lens, and maybe there’s a speck of truth there. But I can’t ignore what happened to entire groups of people.

Again, I don’t believe we can ignore history. I’d rather know the facts, and I want my kids to know the facts as well. I find history fascinating, and the items in the museum are worth a visit.

The artifacts tell the story of this complicated family. Andrew and Rachel had an enduring love story. He was devasted when she died.

Below is Jackson’s carriage.

After the museum, we watched the short film about Jackson. See, I told you we did things backwards! It worked for us. But it’s probably best to start with the film and museum, if possible.

Before we left the plantation proper, we headed to the gift shop for a magnet.

We also ended up with a t-shirt and a Moon Pie.

After the Hermitage

After you leave the Hermitage site, you can drive around and see some other structures related to Jackson and his family. You may also see some animals.

You can also catch this view of the mansion.

This is how visitors would’ve come to the Hermitage in the past,

The trees are taller now.

You can also see the Hermitage Church. The land was donated by the Jacksons.

The nearby churchyard if the final resting place of Jackson’s relatives. It’s also known as the Donelson cemetery. The niece who served as First Lady during Jackson’s presidency was a Donelson.

You can also drive over to the Tulip Grove mansion that belonged to Andew Jackson Donelson and his wife Emily. It was built while the couple was in Washington, D.C. Emily died of tuberculosis in the house not long after returning to Tennessee. Soon, Donelson left for Memphis and sold the home. Today, the mansion is rented out for events.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is a great place to get in a little history while you’re visiting Nashville. I’m glad we made the time to check it out. I’m always ready to see a historic home to learn more about the past, and it’s even better if it’s a president’s home. If you’re in Nashville, give it a go.

Other Tenneesee adventures:

The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken in Nashville

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains

Memphis Family Fun

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Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is so steeped in history — the good and the bad.

This is a place I would love to visit! I love historic sites!

It looks like Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is big! You could spend quite a few hours there! And I completely agree with you about studying history and learning from our mistakes. Thanks for the tour!

I love a good historic location! This is definitely somewhere I’d love to visit if I’m ever over that direction. Any time I’ve been in the US I’ve never had the opportunity to visit places like this because I’m with family, but maybe in the future.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is a place we wanted to explore when we lived in the area. Sadly it was closed during the pandemic. The place looks huge! Thank you for sharing.

Such a beautiful tour! I love historical tours like this. Visiting Jackson’s Hermitage has been on my list for a while. I need to start planning soon! I enjoyed reading your post.

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Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Visit the 7th U.S. President’s Home

If you find yourself driving across the never-ending corridor of I-40 from one corner of Tennessee to the other, you may start to see signs directing you to pull over and visit Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville and similar brochures gracing the cover of the every visitors’ center stands. After all, the Hermitage is a U.S. presidential home, and how often do you get to peek behind the curtain of a former world leader?

The Hermitage spans more than 1,000 acres and contains two mansions, reconstructed slave quarters, a museum, a cafe, a wine-tasting room and a dense, sprawling exhibit of historical artifacts.

But what does a visit to the Hermitage really entail? If you’re heading to Nashville—or passing through on an I-40 road trip soon—here’s everything you need to know about visiting Andrew Jackson’s former home.

Where to stay in Nashville near the Hermitage

The Hermitage is to the east of Nashville in the town of the same name, near Donelson and BNA airport. If you’re just coming to tour the property, you might stay out that way; otherwise, I recommend making your base closer to Midtown or in a vacation rental in downtown Nashville .

This post was last updated in March 2023.

The history of Andrew Jackson

Virtually every American president carries around baggage. Those who rose to high levels of power and authority during the era of slavery and the concerted effort to drive Native Americans into extinction, in particular, have plenty of heavy, morally suspect deeds and accomplishments associated with their names.

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president who lived from 1767 who 1845, is no exception. Before becoming a wealthy landowner with hundreds of enslaved people working his property, he speculated on Native American land through various ownership schemes. He also grew up dirt poor, lost his entire family by the age of 15 and defeated the British multiple times. Like all humans, he contained layers.

As Americans, we have a peculiar relationship with celebrities like President Jackson and often look past the nitty-gritty of how these mythical figures in history actually lived their lives. It’s an almost impenetrable fog sometimes, to think about an era of our society when these things were not only possible, but celebrated and cheered.

So how do we process complicated, uncomfortable topics like slavery? Jackson quite possibly owned in excess of 500 human beings throughout his lifetime. The only way to digest and purge these past sins is by continuing to honor those who were enslaved and to visit the historic sites that tell their stories so we can learn firsthand.

What’s impressive about the Hermitage, located just outside of Nashville on 1,120 of rolling, pastoral Tennessee land, is that the cotton plantation home run by slaves that created much of Andrew Jackson’s wealth, is that they don’t shy away from teaching about this history , instead embracing the evolving understanding of one of our most consequential Founding Fathers, whose visage still graces the $20 bill today.

It’s impossible to summarize the contradictions on the past here in a single blog post, which is why we encourage you to explore more, to read more, to study and think more about how everything has come to be where we are right now, and The Hermitage is one of those iconic, must-see locations that go quite a ways toward understanding the history of this state and our country.

The Hermitage experience

Arriving on the grounds of the Hermitage, you’ll immediately notice how large and uncluttered the surrounding lands are. The museum heritage foundation has somehow managed to preserve and own enough real estate around the mansion that it feels akin to how it would have to historical contemporaries.

Once you park, you’ll buy tickets , then enter the museum to the right where can peruse the exhibits about Jackson’s life and watch a 17-minute film prior to touring the mansion and the grounds.

Visiting the mansion

If you want to step inside Jackson’s former home, you’ll need to book a mansion tour. Mansion tours take place every 15 minutes and take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You’ll walk through the historic home with your group as interpretative guides tell you about each room and its use.

As history nerds who love old homes and renovations plans, we were fascinated to see the various architectural renderings of this 1800s mansion through the decades; it was built as a Federal-style home, then became a Greek Revival mansion after a fire demanded parts of the home be rebuilt; columns were added to make the home look more contemporary for the period.

We learned that Jackson was a frugal homeowner—and the only president to pay off the national debt—which was reflected in his materials for the house. The doors and other features are not exotic mahogany as they appear, yet tulip poplar harvested from the grounds that was painted to look expensive.

photos courtesy of the Andrew Jackson Foundation

The guided VIP Tour (daily at 10am and 2pm) is ideal for the curious traveler who has questions and wants them answered while experiencing the grounds and mansion in real time. You’ll spend 90 minutes with an experienced guide in a small group setting and enjoy special access to the mansion balcony (not offered on the regular mansion tour).

If you’re visiting the Hermitage and can carve out the time, I highly recommend the In Their Footsteps tour (daily at 1pm), which focuses specifically on the stories of the enslaved men and women who lived at the Hermitage both during Andrew Jackson’s life and beyond his death. Tour guides touch upon the importance of the slaves to the operation of the plantation and what all they endured, and you’ll learn about individuals like Alfred, who continued to live at the Hermitage after emancipation and was one of the estate’s first tour guides when it was opened to the public.

photo courtesy of the Andrew Jackson Foundation

Tickets for these special tours include access to the Mansion and discounted wine tastings for guests of age.

Another unique way to see the grounds is by horse-drawn wagon. Offered daily in small groups, The Hermitage Enslaved: A Wagon Tour carts visitors out into the plantation fields where the enslaved men, women, and children worked and lived under the ownership of Andrew Jackson. It’s a more immersive way to understand what took place on these grounds not all that long ago.

Touring the grounds

Even if you’re on limited time and don’t opt to tour the mansion, you can still purchase a grounds pass for a discounted price. The Grounds Pass gives you access to the expansive land comprising thriving gardens, Andrew and Rachel Jackson’s tombs, the family cemetery, field quarters, historical markers and wildlife (we spotted Cooper hawks and a whole family of deer!).

You’ll also want to watch the exhibit and film at the visitors’ center before you start your roaming.

Dogs are welcome visitors on the Hermitage grounds, so long as they stay on their leashes. They cannot enter any of the buildings, nor can they drink the wine. The Grounds Pass also gives you discounted wine tasting at the onsite tasting room, Natchez Hills Winery at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage.

Eating and drinking the cafe

Once you’re done with your mansion tour, the Hermitage experience doesn’t stop there. You’ll want to get a taste of true Southern food via the on-site cafe, Bailey & Cato . Served cafeteria style, you’ll go through the line and choose from a mix of buffet-style items and made-to-order entrees like fried catfish, grilled Pimento cheese, green beans, mac and cheese, meatloaf, candied yams and other Southern staples.

But what’s a hearty meal without something with which to wash it down? Natchez Hills Winery and Vineyard shares the restaurant space with Bailey & Cato, offering wine tastings, as well as full pours and wine by the bottle. I’d be a bad tour guide if I didn’t tell you to sample the wine slushee on a warm day and mix the two options for a delightful Sangria-like concoction.

Not wild about wine? No worries. The tasting room sells local craft beer, too.

And since alcohol is allowed outside of the cafe and on the Hermitage grounds, you can also get your wine, beer or slushee to go—so long as you’re drinking it from a plastic cup—and set up your own picnic under the sunshine.

Have you ever visited Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville? If not, is it on your list?

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Hi Kristin,

It was a great share! I have been thinking about visiting something similar myself. I have a nephew in my family who is very interested in all this stuff, although he is young and is still finding his way. I think for now I should answer every question he has. I am sure he will love learning about this and visit it as well. I will definitely tell him about this President’s house, and maybe someday I will be able to take him as well.

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Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

This historic plantation house and museum was the home of President Andrew Jackson. The original two-story Federal Style mansion was built in 1821 by skilled slave labor. A decade later, Jackson had the home remodeled, but it sustained extensive damage during a fire. The current classical Greek Revival-style mansion was completed in 1835. The interior features block-printed wallpaper, Italian marble mantels, crystal chandeliers and a cantilevered elliptical staircase as well as period furnishings and family keepsakes. In addition to Jackson’s tomb, the grounds of this national landmark include a chapel, landscaped gardens and restored slave quarters.

Complete Guide to Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage

Nicknamed “Old Hickory,” Andrew Jackson was a military and political leader who helped establish the city of Memphis and the modern Democratic Party. He was the first U.S. representative from Tennessee. During the War of 1812, he led a motley force of soldiers, citizens and pirates to victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Fourteen years before his election as the seventh U.S. President in 1828, he purchased a 640-acre cotton plantation, which he named the Hermitage.

A Brief History of the Hermitage

The Hermitage is situated in a peaceful meadow chosen by Jackson’s wife Rachel. The Jacksons originally lived in a log cabin that was constructed by the previous owner. Their nine slaves occupied two  smaller log cabins. These buildings are known collectively as the First Hermitage.

To replace the log cabin, Jackson had a Federal-style brick mansion constructed in 1821. It had four rooms on the first floor and four on the second. The central hallway formed a breezeway during warm weather. Ten years later, the President commissioned David Morrison to re-design the Hermitage while he was living in the White House. An entrance featuring 10 columns replaced the simple portico and flanking one-story wings were also added. After a devastating fire in 1834, Jackson hired William C. Hume and Joseph Reiff to re-build the residence as the 13-room Greek Revival-style mansion currently on the estate. The architects also designed the nearby Tulip Grove and Cleveland Hall mansions for Rachel’s nephews. Jackson entertained numerous guests at the residence, including the Marquis de Lafayette and Sam Houston as well as Presidents James Polk and Martin Van Buren.

Jackson’s grandson was the last family member to occupy the property when he moved out in 1893. The Ladies’ Hermitage Association restored the mansion to its 1837 appearance. The Hermitage is one of the most accurately preserved presidential homes in the country. Attracting 250,000 visitors annually, it is the fourth-most popular presidential residence after the White House, Mount Vernon and Monticello.

Exhibits and Tours

Tours begin at the visitor center. The museum exhibits contain artifacts that chronicle the life of the President and detail the history of the first Hermitage. You can also view a brief film about the penniless orphan’s rise to the most powerful office in the nation. Jackson planted many of the cedar trees along the guitar-shaped pathway leading to the mansion. Regarded as a sign of nearby Nashville’s future musical legacy, the guitar-shaped design made it easier to re-direct horse-drawn carriages. The main entrance on the south side includes a two-story bay supported by six Corinthian-style columns. To emulate the appearance of stone, the wooden columns are adorned with light tan paint and a sand coating. There is a second floor balcony and the northern entrance has six Doric columns.

Once inside the mansion, you will find rooms decorated with period pieces and Jackson family heirlooms. The Greek Revival-style interior features wallpaper imported from France circa 1825 that was manufactured using over 3,000 wooden blocks to hand print and color the design. Manufactured by Joseph Dufour of Paris, the wallpaper depicts scenes during Telemachus’ visit with the Greek mythological nymph Calypso. In addition to crystal chandeliers, other architectural details include classical door and window surrounds, carved Italian marble mantles and an elliptical, cantilevered staircase. A rustic mantle piece carved by a veteran of the battle commemorates the victory at New Orleans. The majority of the furnishings were present when Jackson resided in the home. The bed in the President’s room is the one in which he died in 1845.

The grounds include the tomb of the President and Mrs. Jackson. The limestone monument with a copper roof was completed in 1832. There is also a one-acre formal garden designed by William Frost in 1819 that is laid out in the English foursquare kitchen style. While the visitor center houses numerous exhibits that display artifacts relaying the story of the African-American slaves who lived at the Hermitage, the grounds include a smokehouse and three log slave quarters. Of particular note is Uncle Alfred’s Cabin. The man was born a slave on the plantation; but he remained as a caretaker after emancipation. He is buried near the President’s tomb.

Know Before You Go

The Hermitage is located 12 miles east of downtown Nashville . Beginning March 15 through October 15, the Hermitage is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. From October 16 through March 14, the museum opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. The Hermitage is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It also closes earlier the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve. Discounts on general admission price are available to seniors, students and veterans. Active duty military and children five and under are admitted free.

While photography is encouraged when touring the grounds, it is not allowed inside the mansion. Food, beverages, backpacks and large bags are also prohibited inside the house. Pets are not permitted in the mansion or on the estate grounds. Ample parking is available adjacent to the visitor center.

Attractions Nearby

The two-story, brick Tulip Grove mansion was built in 1836 for Andrew Jackson Donelson, the President’s nephew. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places , it is one of the best remaining examples of antebellum Greek Revival-style architecture in Middle Tennessee. Sitting atop a small hill, it is located approximately one mile from the Hermitage.

Cleveland Hall was built for Stockley Donelson in 1839. Boasting 13-foot ceilings, the 18-room Plantation Plain-style estate was later adorned with Greek Revival-style columns and a pediment. The home is furnished with family heirlooms, including a chest of drawers from President Jackson. The residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Constructed in 1859, Two Rivers Mansion is one of the earliest and best-preserved Italianate-style homes in Middle Tennessee. It is named for the nearby junction of the Cumberland and Stones rivers. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the property also includes a Federal-style home built in 1802.

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Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Tickets and Discounts

You can find all the information you need to visit Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage below, including how to find discounts on tickets.

• Ticket Information
• Plan Your Visit
• Things to Do in Nashville

HOW MUCH DO TICKETS COST FOR ANDREW JACKSON’S HERMITAGE?

Adult admission is between $19 and $50, depending on which ticket package you purchase.

Tip: If you want to purchase a city pass that will give you a bulk discount on multiple attractions, the Nashville Sightseeing Pass includes general admission entry to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage.

Hermitage Grounds Pass Pricing

Includes access to the plantation, the garden, field quarters, historical markers, historic buildings, hiking trails, and more.

NOTE: This does not include access to the Hermitage Mansion.

• $12 Youth (Ages 5-12)
• Free for Kids 4 and Under
• Purchase tickets or learn more .

Mansion Tour Pricing

Includes Grounds Pass access plus an interpreter-led tour of the mansion and an upgraded self-guided device with images.

• $17 Youth (Ages 5-12)
• $23 Senior (Ages 62+)
• $23 Veterans & Military
• $80 Family Pass (2 adults and 2 children/youth)

VIP Upgrade

Includes a General Admission ticket, plus a 1.5-hour VIP guided tour in a small group with access to the mansion’s balcony.

• $65 All Ages/Guests
• To learn more, click here .

In Their Footsteps: Lives of the Hermitage Enslaved Tour

This is a specialized tour that focuses on the lives of the enslaved men and women who lived at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

Tours are currently offered at 1 pm Thursday - Monday.

• $50 per person
• Includes access to the mansion

For an additional $15 per person (Ages 5 and under Free), you can tour the grounds by Wagon.

There is a lot to cover on the plantation and this guided 30-minute horse-drawn carriage is a unique way to do it.

Tours begin behind the house.

Note that there is no cover from rain or sun and you do not leave the wagon at any point on the tour.

Wagon operates from Thursday - Tuesday from 9 am to 6 pm with the last entry at 5 pm.

To know more about wagon tours, click here .

DISCOUNT ANDREW JACKSON’S HERMITAGE TICKETS

This section will cover all the best ways to save money on tickets to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

We will also include details about discounts that might not currently be available but could be added in the near future.

1. Use a Tourist Pass

If you’re considering purchasing a tourist pass, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage General Admission entry is included with the Nashville Sightseeing Pass .

This pass includes access to dozens of popular attractions in Nashville.

If you're planning on visiting multiple locations, a tourist pass is a great way to save money on tickets.

2. Senior Discount

If you're over the age of 62, you are eligible for the senior discount of $3 off the Mansion Tour.

3. Veteran and Military Discounts

Both Active Duty Military and Veterans are eligible for a discount of $3 off the Mansion Tour.

4. Discount Sites

There are several coupon sites like Groupon that often provide discounted tickets to historic and popular attractions such as Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

These sites also frequently offer coupon codes on local activities for an extra 10% - 20% off.

5. Family Pass

If you're visiting with your family, this ticket option will allow you to save some money.

The Family Pass includes admission to the Mansion Tour for 2 adults and 2 youths. 

The price is $80, which is $6 off the general admission prices.

6. Natchez Hill Winery Discount

Every ticket includes a discounted wine tasting at the Natchez Hills Winery at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

This activity is of course only offered to visitors who are over the age of 21.

7. Group Discount

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage provides a group discount for groups of 15 or more visitors.

If you're visiting with a large group, this could be a good way to save money.

Find more about group discounts here .

8. Education Group Discount

If you're planning a field trip to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage for a class of students, there are discounted prices for students, chaperones, and drivers/escorts.

High School and College Students will pay $13 for tickets, while students K-8 will pay $10.

Chaperones, Drivers, and Escorts will receive free admission.

Groups must include 15 or more visitors.

9. AAA Discount

This insurance company frequently offers discounts on popular and historic attractions such as Andrew Jackson's Hermitage.

While they might not always offer a lower price, we recommend checking before you purchase a ticket to see if you can save some money on admission.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

This section will outline what you can expect at The Hermitage, hours of operation, exhibits, and how to get there.

What to Expect

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is where the 7th United States President lived with his wife and family along with nine slaves.

While living on the property in a log cabin, Andrew Jackson had the mansion built in 1821, and it has been renovated and rebuilt a few times since then.

It has now been restored to its 1837 condition and is now one of the most accurately-preserved presidential residences in the United States.

You’ll have access to the grounds, gardens, Mansion, and slave quarters, as well as a Visitor Center Museum.

How to Get Here

The Hermitage is located a 20-minute drive from downtown Nashville.

We recommend driving or taking a taxi or rideshare for convenience.

If you are driving, use this Google link to get directions from your specific starting location .

4580 Rachel’s Lane

Hermitage, TN 37076

Note : There is free parking at the Visitor Center.

Tour Routes and Public Transportation

There are two ways to get to the Hermitage other than by car.

There is one tour that makes a stop at The Hermitage:

• Gray Line Nashville’s Historic Nashville Bus Tour
• Includes admission to the Tennessee State Museum
• Includes visit to Mount Olivet Cemetery

Public Transportation

There are a few bus stops close to the Hermitage if you’re using buses 34 and 56. We recommend double-checking your directions with Google maps .

• Hermitage Nb - 6-minute walk
• Hermitage Sb - 6-minute walk
• Old Hickory Boulevard & 2nd Street - 11-minute walk

Hours of Operation

• Thursday to Tuesday from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm with the last entry at 5 pm

The Hermitage is closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with limited hours on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Is photography allowed?

While outside the Mansion and on the grounds, take as many pictures as you’d like. Inside the Hermitage, however, no photography is allowed.

Are bags, backpacks, strollers, or food allowed inside?

Carry-on bags, suitcases, and large backpacks are not allowed inside the Mansion. There is a place for you to set bags while touring inside the Mansion.

It is just a chair in the lobby (remember to pick it up before you exit the house) so it is not particularly secure.

Food and beverages are also prohibited.  

The grounds are stroller-friendly, but you won't be able to bring them into the house.

What will you see at the Hermitage and Mansion?

Visitor Center

In the Visitor Center, you’ll find artifacts and documents about Andrew Jackson’s life and journey from orphan to president.

Your self-guided audio tour begins here.

Guided tours are offered of the Hermitage mansion. You’ll see inside the rooms, which have been restored to their 1837 condition.

It takes about 30 minutes to complete the guided tour. Tours of the mansion run throughout the day every 5 minutes.

There is no ticketed time, so arrive at the entrance whenever you'd like to tour. There is likely to be a line but it does move fast.

Tours are small, about 10-12 people and you'll walk throughout the house meeting different docents in each room.

There are stairs and you will be able to tour the second floor if you're able.

Slave Quarters

Slavery was the source of Andrew Jackson’s wealth, and the enslaved persons who lived there - men, women, and children - kept the plantation running.

The locations of their living quarters and some discarded artifacts can be found on the grounds.

Alfred's Cabin (pictured above) is mostly original but it is restored to how it would have looked while he lived and worked at The Hermitage after slavery ended, when he was the first tour guide of the house!

You can also pay your respects to him, as he is buried in the garden next to the Jacksons.

The Hermitage has also published a list of the enslaved community found from letters and shared that information with the public as well as descendants of the slaves from this and other nearby plantations.

Rachel's Garden

The Garden at the Hermitage is beautiful and for nature lovers, they do offer special Garden guided tours.

The one-acre plot is full of flora and was known to be a special place to both Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel.

It is immediately adjacent to the house so can be visited before or after a mansion tour.

Garden tours are included with admission but only run seasonally on weekends.

Graves of Andrew Jackson & Family

Within the garden, you will find the final resting place of Andrew Jackson, as well as his wife Rachel, extended family, and Alfred, an enslaved man who remained here after freedom.

Original Hermitage

Jackson and his wife lived in a log cabin while the Hermitage as we know it today was being built.

Though altered, the original Hermitage remains standing today on the grounds.

If you’d rather have transportation to and from Nashville sorted for you by a tour company, Gray Line Nashville has a Historic Nashville Bus Tour that will take you to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage and the Tennessee State Museum.

Entrance fees to both locations are included, but lunch at the Hermitage’s restaurant is not.

The tour includes pickup at central Nashville hotels (if tickets are purchased more than 24 hours in advance) and lasts approximately 7 hours from pickup to drop off.

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Historic Nashville Tour with Andrew Jackson's Hermitage & Tennessee State Museum

• A stress-free Tennessee plantation tour ideal for first-time visitors
• Visit the Hermitage and Tennessee State Museum
• Skip visitor center lines with included tickets
• 6.5-Hour Guided Historic Tennessee & Nashville Bus Tour
• Admission to The Hermitage, Home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson
• Admission to Tennessee State Museum
• Visit Mount Olivet Cemetery, resting place of prominent leaders from the city’s founding to present
• Transportation aboard Air-Conditioned Mini Bus
• Entry/Admission - Tennessee State Museum
• Entry/Admission - Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
• Lunch (discount for lunch at Hermitage House Smorgasbord)
• 108 1st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201, USA Tours depart from: Gray Line Ticket Booth at the Riverfront Train Station, 108 1st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201 (off 1st Ave S, across from Acme Feed & Seed). Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to tour start time.
• Infants must sit on laps
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• conniej249 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very informative and very fun Our driver was excellent. He made the trip so fun. I told him during the tour how much I was enjoying it. I would recommend this tour to anybody coming to Nashville. Read more Written May 5, 2024
• Lisa G 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Mumbo-jumbo The guide mumbled the whole time and I could not understand what he said and a lot of other people in the bus complained also. Very disappointing. Read more Written May 5, 2024
• Q5620XRkimberlyb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles PM in Nashville overview I really enjoyed TJ- It was a great evening just to drive around get a little overview of everything- And be out at night without having to walk around in the sea of people. It was also nice to see things lit up For the evening. It was just the right amount of time. Bring a bottle of water with you! Read more Written May 5, 2024
• mharris2020 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun for young kids It was me and my 8 year old. Informative and my son even enjoyed it. I don’t remember his name, but our guide was an older white gentleman and his presentation style was engaging with lots of fun facts. We sat on the open part of the bus and my 8 year old enjoyed quick photo ops in front of the Nissan Stadium and the Parthenon. Read more Written May 5, 2024
• Compass537754 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommended time capsule. Spend a couple of hours in a different time period. Great live entertainment. Southern food. Great experience. Feel like Tom Sawyer. Read more Written May 5, 2024
• lesliesT8199MG 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth every penny. Worth ever penny. It’s a long trip but Frank our driver was amazing. The accessibility at Graceland, the private tour of Sun Studios, and finishing it off with a couple of hours on Beale Street, we would have never done all this on our own. Highly recommended. Thanks Frank! Read more Written May 5, 2024
• Discover21229093089 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Night Tour of Nashville TJ was awesome! Very informative and funny. His knowledge about Nashville history is great. Every stop we made was totally worth the photo opportunity. Read more Written May 5, 2024
• krissU5315OZ 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Fun Seen lots of beautiful famous people's homes very entertaining well worth the trip. Would suggest this tour while you are here Read more Written May 4, 2024
• melv514 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice views on top deck Amazon experience! Saw the city high up. Tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Got to see a lot of stuff and a little history as well. Read more Written May 3, 2024
• paulinemU2812UN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The bus tour of Nashville was fun and interesting. We loved it! Our guide Corey was very knowledgeable and funny, too. We enjoyed learning history and tidbits about Nashville and Tennessee. Loved knowing how Music City got its name, the main industries of the city and various other info. Enjoyed going down Broadway and hearing all the music-during the daytime, no less! Read more Written May 3, 2024
• Culture61352823195 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Amazing!!! Lots of American history. Worth the trip. I recommend visiting. Just a beautiful place. This tour take you back in time. Read more Written May 3, 2024
• E2547CLrobertw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good introduction to Nashville Worthwhile orientation tour for us with the highlights of Nashville. Well organized and conducted. Driver gave an informative tour. Read more Written May 3, 2024
• MKA55 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience, Nice Friendly Staff, Easy Parking across the street, This was an excellent tour. Our tour guide Jewell was very personable and entertaining. She was very knowledgable and entertaining. From check in to the completion of the tour everything was excellent. I would highly recommend this tour and our guide. It was so great to take this tour and not have to worry about the traffic and parking. We would never have learned all we did without taking it. Read more Written May 3, 2024
• mock1974 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A good time Very good the drive was well educated he knew is stuff and answered everyone's questions with a good answer I would strongly do this it fun and a good time Read more Written May 2, 2024
• Trek49094 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A large pina colada with a huge glass not “plane worthy” The show was fantastic . Food was good. The waiters at table were non existent although they made a point to say goodbye when leaving to receive a tip which we did do although I am not sure why . They did nothing for us . Purchased a pinacolada and were shocked when it was $42. Went to return glass and was told to keep . This was not explained at time of purchase . Would have ordered something different . There was no bag provided to put the glass in and not anything we wanted as we are taking a plane home and will not work in luggage . Wish we had known in advance . Trip is entertaining , singers and musicians are great … a little more thought to the drink service would be helpful. Read more Written May 2, 2024

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Historic Nashville Tour with Andrew Jackson's Hermitage & Tennessee State Museum provided by Gray Line Tours

Andrew Jackson's Parrot Kicked Out of His Funeral for Swearing?

The seventh u.s. president’s pet allegedly had a fowl mouth., nur ibrahim, published april 26, 2024.

About this rating

We have found only one eyewitness account of the potty-mouthed parrot mentioned in a letter decades after Jackson's funeral. No similar accounts have emerged to corroborate the claim.

Parrots can have foul temperaments. A long-viral internet rumor claimed that U.S. President Andrew Jackson's pet parrot got so rowdy and profane at Jackson's funeral that it had to be removed. 

The funeral in 1845 drew thousands to his Tennessee home, known as The Hermitage, where he was buried . Jackson was suffering from a number of ailments, including malarial coughs and old wounds from duels that left bullets lodged in his lungs and arm. 

But it was Poll, his beloved parrot, that allegedly drew unwanted attention at the funeral by swearing like a sailor. According to one post , "President Andrew Jackson taught his pet parrot to curse. The bird was later kicked out of the former president's funeral for swearing during the service, according to one Jackson biographer." 

The claim has been repeated on the YouTube account connected to the official museum for Jackson's home, as well as by the cast of " Hamilton "—a musical about the founding fathers of the United States. 

The Hermitage conducts tours for visitors around Jackson's historic home. A 2015 report in The Tennessean described a tour guide's account of the funeral: "The day of the funeral, almost as if his best friend had departed, he [the parrot] squawked and squeaked and chirped and yes, said a few bad words." 

We found only one written account of the cursing parrot, detailed by a funeral attendee in a letter, decades after the event. A historian and The Hermitage's collections team also directed us to this same account. Given that we were unable to find more than one source recounting the incident, and that it was shared years after it allegedly occurred, we rate this claim as "Unproven" until more details come to light. 

To determine the veracity of the claim, we looked closely at any firsthand accounts about Poll, the parrot. According to Dan Feller, professor of history at the University of Tennessee and editor at " The Papers of Andrew Jackson " project, Jackson bought the parrot for his wife, Rachel, for $25 through the Nashville firm of Decker & Dyer on June 5, 1827. Rachel died in 1828, however, and Poll remained at The Hermitage. 

We found numerous examples of Jackson enquiring about the bird's health in letters to family members as collected in "The Papers of Andrew Jackson." In March 1829 , he wrote to his nephew, William Donelson:

My Dr Sir write me on the recept of this and let me know how your dear little Elisabeth is, & whether poor poll the favorite bird of my dear wife is still living—present me affectionately to Elisabeth to your father & mother, and all our relations, say to them that we are all well & all send their love to them & believe me respectfully your friend.

In October 1829, he wrote to Donelson:

An evidence of my regard for Elisabeth, was my leaving with her poor poll the favorite of my Dear departed wife—whether this bird still lives you have not said—present my best love to Elisabeth, and ask her for my sake, to preserve her for me if she can, until I return, as I intend to foster the bird & prolong its life as long as I live for the fondness my Dear wife had for her—when you write say whether it lives.

Donelson wrote back in December 1830, "poor Poll too is doing well she is as fat and saucy as ever from her continued good health I think she will live to be an old Bird."

Poll is mentioned numerous times over Jackson's letters. Feller pointed out that Poll was referenced less after 1837 when Jackson moved home, possibly "because he was then himself living at home and had no need to write to enquire after her." 

Poll's behavior at Jackson's funeral was described in a letter decades after the funeral in the 1921 book, " Andrew Jackson and Early Tennessee History " by S.G. Heiskell. The author endeavored to collect complete documents referencing the president, his state papers, and other miscellaneous items, and reproduce it in a series of volumes as a way to study that period of American history. 

One letter , written by Reverend W. M. Norment to Heiskell in 1921, detailed Jackson's funeral, which Norment attended. Norment described being a young boy when he first met Jackson just a few weeks before his death, when Jackson gave him and his friends "a hearty, fatherly talk upon the responsibilities of life, of church and state, especially of the Christian life." After that meeting, they heard of his death (emphasis, ours):

This was about three weeks before his death. When hearing that he was dead, I, with others, decided to attend the burial. The funeral was preached by a Presbyterian Pastor from Nashville, standing on the front porch to a great concourse of people. His body was then taken by a military company and borne to the garden and placed beside his wife in a vault that he had prepared. A military salute was then fired and we left him there to rest in peace, to await the great resurrection morn. Before the sermon and while the crowd was gathering, a wicked parrot that was a household pet, got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house. And thus the man of nerve that won battles and guided the ship of State thru stormy scenes, had finished his work. 

Experts we spoke to pointed to Norment's account as evidence of the incident occurring. The collections office at The Hermitage said in response to our query about the veracity of the account: "The Rev. Norment reference is the only one we know about Poll's actions at Jackson's funeral."

" The Papers of Andrew Jackson " also has a footnote under the 1827 account about Poll's purchase from Decker & Dyer: "Named 'Poll,' the parrot, bought for Rachel, was still living at the time of AJ's [Andrew Jackson's] death. According to an eyewitness account, 'Poll' had to be removed from the house during AJ's funeral because of its loud cursing." The eyewitness referenced in the footnote is not named but it is most likely Norment. 

Feller concluded that he could find no other mentions of Poll from the funeral, other than the letter from Norment:

I've not found any mention of Poll at the funeral earlier than the Norment letter, which you'll note was written decades after the fact. It's not mentioned, for instance, in James Parton's three-volume 1860 Jackson biography. Note also that Norment is presenting the story as new information, not as something his correspondent Heiskell would already have known about. Many modern accounts, including for instance Arthur M. Schlesinger's "Age of Jackson," tell the story (sometimes with embellished imaginary details), but they all trace back directly or indirectly to the Norment letter as printed in S. G. Heiskell's book. On the other side, Norment's tale does jibe with some other information that we can corroborate: that Poll the parrot existed is well documented. So is his story true? As a historian, I'd say that the best we can say is that it's uncontroverted but also unauthenticated, and leave it at that.

A representative from the collections department of the Hermitage told us that after the funeral, Poll was likely cared for by remaining family members at The Hermitage, given that Jackson's adoptive grandchildren referenced the parrot in an 1850 letter.  

Feller, Dan. Email Exchange with Dan Feller. Email, 23 Apr. 2024.

Heiskell, Samuel Gordon. "Andrew Jackson and Early Tennessee History." Ambrose Printing Company, 1921. Accessed 23 April 2024. 

"History at Home - Presidential Pets." Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, 2020. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_nz0N23L0. Accessed 23 April 2024. 

Jenkins, Sally. "Andrew Jackson Was a Populist Even on His Deathbed." Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/andrew-jackson-populist-even-deathbed-180962124/. Accessed 23 April 2024. 

Meyer, Holly. "Andrew Jackson's Funeral Drew Thousands, 1 Swearing Parrot." The Tennessean, https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/06/07/andrew-jacksons-funeral-drew-thousands-swearing-parrot/28664493/. Accessed 23 April 2024. 

Miner, Pam. Email Exchange with Pam Miner. Email, 23 Apr. 2024.

The Papers of Andrew Jackson. 21 Apr. 2014, https://thepapersofandrewjackson.utk.edu/. Accessed 23 April 2024. 

By Nur Ibrahim

Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.

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