Nashville is a vibrant, bustling city. This sprawling metropolis, now a destination for foodies and country music fans, is a far cry from its humble beginnings when the first group of settlers arrived in 1779. Rich in history, Nashville is an easy day trip from Chattanooga, Memphis, Huntsville, or Knoxville. Nestled amongst the city are historic gems of the past including the Hermitage, the former home of President Andrew Jackson, and Belle Meade Plantation. Here’s why you need to plan a trip to these two must-visit Nashville Historic Sites.

Must Visit Nashville Historic Sites

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

Located ten miles outside the city of Nashville, the Hermitage was home to President Andrew Jackson from 1804 until his death in 1845. While this distance was a day trip in a carriage during Jackson’s time, today it is only a short car drive before you arrive at the gates. Known as “the people’s president,” Andrew Jackson’s beloved Hermitage has been voted the third best Presidential Site in the nation by USA TODAY.

The History

After being forced to sell his plantation, Hunter Hill, to avoid bankruptcy due to failed business endeavors, Andrew Jackson purchased a smaller 425-acre farm from his neighbor. They lived in a two-story log cabin on the property until construction of the Hermitage was completed in 1821. Afterward, the roof was lowered on the cabin to create a one-story building. It was then converted to two slave homes. Originally built in the federal style, the mansion was remodeled and expanded during Jackson’s presidency. A devastating fire in 1834 caused the mansion to be rebuilt in its present Greek Revival style. After the death of President Jackson in 1845 the family fell upon hard times, quickly going into debt. The home was eventually sold to the state of Tennessee. After several years of neglect, it was restored and opened as a museum in 1889.

The First Hermitage

The Hermitage Today

The main house has been loving restored to include many of the original furnishings from the Jackson Family and many of the original wallpapers. While photographs are not allowed inside the mansion, you’ll be able to see the foyer just as if you had been a visitor to the family home during Jackson’s lifetime. Preferring to be known for his military past and referred to as “the General,” Jackson kept mementos, still seen today, of his travels and military career in the parlor. He enjoyed regaling guests with stories of his exploits.

As a well-educated man, Jackson read several newspapers from around the country to keep abreast of current events. His newspaper collection is carefully cataloged, bound, and stored in his library, just as if he never left. His bedroom, located on the first floor, gives a glimpse into his private life.

One of the things I liked about this tour is how they do not brush the issue of slavery under the rug. The curators discuss the enslaved population and share their knowledge of the families who worked on the plantation, not excusing Jackson for his participation. Before leaving the main house, be sure to find the bells located on the back porch. These bells were connected to the parlor, the dining room, and Jackson’s bedroom and were used to summon slaves. Each bell had a different tone. The enslaved people learned the tones so they would know which room in which the family needed them.

Visitors can stroll through the grounds and view a slave cabin that would have been used for the families of “house servants” and further away, the first Hermitage, redesigned for enslaved families. A hiking trail leads to where the “field workers” would have lived, along with the remnants of a cabin.

Be sure to visit the Heritage Gardens. Since no “official” designs of the gardens are known, they have been replanted in flowers that would have commonly been used during Jackson’s time. Amidst the gardens, in her favorite place on the grounds, is Rachel Jackson’s tomb. The tomb was designed in a Grecian style, using a scene from the wallpaper decorating the foyer of the home.

Tips for Visiting Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

*Plan to arrive early in the day when it is less crowded.
*To see all the buildings, take the tour, and watch the film, plan for your visit to last three to four hours.
*The entrance fee covers a house tour, a self-guided tour of the grounds and the visitor center. An upgraded President’s Tour is available for an additional fee, which includes “an upgraded device to enhance your visit with period images, maps of the property, and an interactive timeline not available anywhere else on the tour.”
*You can have lunch at the Hermitage in their Kitchen Cabinet Cafe. Picnic tables are available if you prefer to bring your own lunch.

Hermitage garden — *The Hermitage Garden*

Belle Meade Plantation

The History

This magnificent Greek Revival home begins with a humble past. John Harding, an enterprising settler who saw the possibilities of commerce along the busy Natchez Road, purchased the original 250 acres of land for the property. He built a small log cabin for his family and soon created a thriving business, with a blacksmith shop, a cotton gin, a gristmill, and a sawmill. As with any thriving business, the Hardings needed laborers and, unfortunately, he found the labor through slave ownership. Soon he was the largest slaveholder in the Nashville area.

john harding cabin — *The original homestead at Belle Meade Plantation*.

Never a farmer in the agricultural sense, he expanded his holdings to include the boarding and breeding of racehorses. He became one of the premiere horse breeders of his time, producing a line from Iroquois, that has stood the test of time. Many of the descendants, including Kentucky Derby winners, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and Barbaro, can trace their lineage back to Belle Meade. As the family fortunes expanded, Mr. Harding built a new Federal Style family home. Over the years his son, William Giles Harding, converted and expanded the house to its present Grecian Revival Style.

The farm remained largely intact during the Civil War. Nashville was captured early in the war, allowing Belle Meade to be used as a hospital, sparing the burning of the plantation. Likewise, the racing horses were declared unfit for battle due to their temperaments and were left- unharmed- on the farm. The family fortune began to decline in 1893 and the property was the Harding family sold the remaining portion of the estate. The house and eight remaining outbuildings were purchased by the state of Tennessee in 1953 and later donated to the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities and turned into a museum.

Belle Meade Today

Strolling through the grounds and mansion of Belle Meade is like stepping into the past. Upon stepping into the house it looks as if the family has stepped out for a moment, soon to return. The guide, dressed in period costume, began the tour by pointing out one of Belle Meades’ newest acquisitions, a rare portrait of Iroquois and Robert “Bob” Green, their most famous hostler(“horse trainer.”) The picture had recently been acquired at auction from a family member whose grandchildren were fighting over who would receive the picture and sell it at auction after he died.

The decor of the mansion changes with the seasons, including, when we visited, “Summer dress.” Most of the upstairs hallway furniture was covered with drop cloths, showing how the owners would have covered the furniture when the windows were open to keep dust and bugs off the furnishings. One of the rooms was converted to a “mourning” room, as the curator described how many people in the area had lost their lives to cholera, yellow fever, and typhoid. All the mirrors were draped with black cloth because it was believed that the soul of the deceased could become trapped in the mirror. Another theory suggested the first person who saw themselves in the mirror after a death would die soon.

The curators at Belle Meade do not gloss over the slavery issue. Instead, they are happy to answer questions about the enslaved people who lived on the farm and include stories about the enslaved population who lived on the farm throughout the tour.

After visiting the house, be sure to stroll through the grounds and visit the other buildings. The original homestead was later converted into a home for Bob Green and his family. The rooms of the cabin, separated by a “dog trot” porch, show how the cabin would have looked when it was home to the Hardings on one side. The other side shows how the cabin would have looked when Bob Green’s family lived there. The stables are well worth a visit to see the collection of antique carriages. If you’re a garden fan, you have to stop by the formal garden and the informal flower garden or visit the former family tomb, once surrounded by a peaceful garden for reflection.

Tips for Visiting Belle Meade Plantation

*While reservations are not required, tour groups are limited in size so planning ahead is a good idea.
*If you prefer not to take a tour of the home, “grounds only” self-guided tours are available.
*Included in the house tour are a self-guided tour of the grounds, along with a wine tasting in the award-winning Belle Meade Winery.
*Speciality food and wine pairings taste events are available for an additional fee.