General Jackson's room (right)
A portrait of Rachel is over the mantel so Jackson could see it (in his words) "the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night." Rachel passed 17 years prior to Jackson's passing.
- A portrait of Little Rachel, Jackson's granddaughter, is over the dresser. She and her grandfather often walked the grounds together.
- Jackson passed away at the age of 78 in this bedroom.
- On the dresser are Jackson's brushes as well as two Chinese Mandarin scent bottles and a jewel box that belonged to Rachel.
- The black tobacco can on the bedside table is one he actually used.
- A green French teapot has a place for a candle underneath to keep tea hot.
- Two vases on the mantle also belonged to Rachel.
- Since the mansion did not have bathrooms, you will see a washstand set by the door used by Jackson. It also includes a foot tub, the only one at the residence.
- The bed and window dressings are reproductions of ones used during winter months.
- The bedspread is a duplicate of one Rachel made with the embroidered initials "R.J."
- The wallpaper in this room is original.
Andrew Jackson Jr. & Sarah York Jackson (left-beside stairs)
The nephew of Rachel Donelson Jackson was adopted by President and Mrs. Jackson as a baby and raised as their own. Andrew Jr. managed the plantation during Jackson's tenure at the White House. He inherited the home from Jackson. He now lies in state at the family cemetery in Rachel's Garden.
- Original Mahogany poster bed (one of eight purchased by Sarah after the 1834 fire)
- Many of the furnishings are original.
Steward's Room / Nursery (left)
Originally used as a room for an overseer, the room was used as a nursery for the children of Andrew Jr. and Sarah York Jackson. This room was later used to display relics belonging to the Jackson family.
- President Jackson's swords and pistols
- President Jackson's prayer book
- A silver communion/christening cup
- Gold spurs
- Epaulette's and stirrups
- Dress suit
- Rachel's lace cap and veil
- White House silver
- The portrait over the mantel is of the Talmadge twins from New York. They were namesakes of Andrew & Rachel.
Upstairs
Family Room (right)
The family room was used by Andrew Jackson, Jr., Andrew Jackson Donelson, and Andrew Jackson Hutchings. This was also Little Rachel's room, Jackson's granddaughter.
- Rosewood furniture instead of the Mahogany is found throughout the rest of the home. The furniture was a gift to Little Rachel by her husband, Dr. John H. Lawrence.
- The portrait of Little Rachel was done when she was 80 years old, by Edith Fisher, as a gift from Andrew Jackson. Note the miniature of her grandmother, Rachel.
- The quilt was made by Little Rachel.
Earl's Room (left)
Once occupied by Ralph E.W. Earl, an artist who married a niece of Rachel's. His wife passed away early in life but he was taken in as permanent member of the household.
Lafayette's Room/Guest Chamber(straight ahead through the hall to the on the other side of the staircase)
Visitors would sometimes stay a week or possibly even to the extent of years in these rooms as traveling wasn't as easy as it is today.
- French armchair given to the Hermitage by General Lafayette's grandson in 1890. It was believed that General Lafayette spent the majority of the time as a guest of the home. Thus giving the room it's name.
- The wallpaper and furnishings in the rooms are original.
- The carpeting is replica.
- Masonic candlestick in the room was used by President Jackson.
Down the spiral staircase and out the rear door onto the rear patio. As you turn to your left and this will take you to the hall leading to the..
- Storage Pantry (here begin looking for the buttons for the audio tour that will play on speakers above)
- Service Pantry (button)
- Dining Room (this also gives another glimpse into the back parlor)
Kitchen
Back out of this area and the kitchen is straight across the corridor. It is separated from the house to prevent risk of fire as well as to eliminate noise, heat and odors of cooking to the inhabitants of the house. Dishes prepared in the kitchen were then transported to a room directly opposite the kitchen door for maintaining warmth. From there, each course was taken to the dining room.
- Open fireplace where family meals were prepared.
- Drum-shaped churn
- Mortar and pestle used for mixing and crushing herbs and spices.
- Brass preserving kettles
- Large china water cooler.
Smokehouse
Turn to your left, proceed down the steps and around the right side of the building to Andrew Jackson's smokehouse,built in 1831.
- This smokehouse was one of the best known in the south for the curing of meat.
- On the west side of the smokehouse is an original vat where ham was cured for three to four weeks at a time.Following the curing time, the ham was washed of salt and dried. Then it was hung in the smokehouse for three to four additional weeks and smoked by a slow burning fire. The meat would then remain there until it was needed for a meal.
