THE UPPER CHAMBERS
Earl’s Room
The bed, the chest, the mirror, the chair of Venetian ironwork, used as a barber’s chair, all belonged to the original furnishings. The wallpaper is also the original. The carpet which is of the same period was presented by Mrs. Horatio Berry. A quilt of the period is the gift of Mrs. Louise Blackwell, of Warrenton, Va.
1. Portrait of Col. Jeremiah George Harris. Purser of the Navy, Editor of National Union and close friend of Jackson. Presented by his daughter, Mrs. Van S. Lindsley. 2. Portrait of Jackson by Earl. 3. Pair of shell letter racks presented to Mrs. Jackson in 1827 (letter of presentation in the Museum.) 4. Profile portrait of Jackson by Earl. Presented by Miss Mary McLemore, Donelson descendant, whose brother, John C. McLemore, III, had bequeathed it to the Hermitage. 5. Banjo owned by President Jackson, loaned by Miss Emma Hoffstetter.
Little Rachel’s Room
The bronze lamp on mantle was among the original Hermitage furnishings.
The Upper Hall
1. Jackson’s old cedar chest. 2. Steel engraving “Sortie on Gibraltar.” 3. Steel engraving, “Siege of Gibraltar.” 4. Steel engraving of Jackson on Sam Patch, willed to the Association by Miss Elizabeth Archer. 5. Oration on General Jackson, delivered by George Bancroft, U. S. Secretary of the Navy, in Washington, June 27, 1845 (one of 24 public eulogies delivered by various national leaders following Jackson’s death).
Guest Room
1. Portrait of Jackson by Earl. 2. Portrait of Jackson by an unknown artist.
The Brides’ Room
1. Portrait of Mrs. Jackson. Presented to the Association by Mrs. Ellen Call Long, whose father, General Call, eloped with Miss Mary Kirkman and was married at the Hermitage. This portrait and also one of General Jackson, were given to the young couple as a bridal present. 2. Chair from the Chateau de Lafayette, presented to the Association in 1890 by Senator Edmond de Lafayette, the grandson of General Lafayette. Senator Lafayette’s letter in relation to this gift is in the Museum. 3. Masonic Lodge candlestick used in Gallatin by General Jackson. Presented by Col. Thomas H. Boyers. 4. Portrait of Jackson presented to the Association by Mr. and Mrs. David C. Mosby, San Francisco, Calif.
The Dining Room
The dining room contains the original sideboard, table, some of the chairs, side table, pier table, sugar chest, andirons, and some of the silver and glass. The drapery fabric is an exact reproduction of an old brocatel pattern, by Scalamandre Silks; the curtains are of the type originally used; the carpet is one of the period. The floor is the only one in the mansion that has had to be replaced; a piece of the original flooring is in the Museum.
Adjoining the dining room is the pantry and farther to the rear the storeroom. A passageway leads directly from the dining room to the porch connecting with the kitchen.
All articles in the dining room are originals unless otherwise specified.
1. The “Old Hickory” or January 8 mantel, made of bits of hickory bark worked on only on the 8th of January of successive years, by one of Jackson’s soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans. Presented to General Jackson January 8, 1839 and placed in the dining room by General Jackson, January 8, 1840. 2. Pair of French vases, on the mantel. 3. The original dining table, at which several Presidents have dined: James Monroe, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Presidents Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William H. Taft, General Sam Houston, and the Marquis de Lafayette were also among the distinguished guests who have been entertained at the Hermitage. 4. Silver tray given to Jackson by Sam Houston. Presented to the Association by Mrs. Alice Watkins Shields. The large coffee pot with the initials A. J., once owned by Jackson, was returned by its recent owner, Mrs. John MacVeagh, Santa Barbara, Calif.; the three other pieces are Hermitage originals. 5. Candelabra with “wind glasses.” 6. Epergne. 7. Silver wine cart. Mate in Museum. 8. Two of the Decatur silver vegetable dishes. 9. Silver egg and toast rack. Presented by Mr. and Mrs. T. Graham Hall in memory of his mother, Mrs. Jennie McIver Hall, to whose family these were given by the Jacksons. 10. Cruet set. 11. Silver covered dishes, part of the silver pieces purchased by Jackson from the widow of Commodore Decatur. The silver originally included sixteen round and oval dishes, which were used constantly for years at the Hermitage. 12. Silver candelabrum, one of a pair used at the White House, given by Miss Mary R. Wilcox. 13. Additional pieces of the Decatur silver. 14. Bohemian wine decanters and silver holders. 15. Silver wine cooler. 16. Portrait of John Donelson, one of the Tennessee pioneers, brother of Rachel Jackson. 17. Portrait of the adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr. by Earl. 18. Portrait of Sarah York Jackson (wife of Andrew Jackson, Jr.). The dress in which she is pictured is in the Museum. 19. Portrait of Mrs. John Donelson (Mary Purnell). 20. Portrait of Rachel Jackson, wife of Andrew Jackson. 21. Portrait of Andrew Jackson, about 1820. 22. Oil painting of Christopher Columbus (over the mantel). Presented to Jackson by S. D. Bradford of West Roxbury, Mass 23. Portrait of General Coffee. 24. Portrait of Mary Donelson Coffee, wife of General Coffee, daughter of John Donelson and niece of Rachel Jackson. These portraits were presented by Hon. Alexander Donelson Coffee, son of General and Mrs. Coffee.
Kitchen
Spinning wheel and reel, over 100 years old. Presented by Andrew Jackson Baker, former custodian, who was born at the Hermitage. Table of the period, given by Mrs. W. H. Wemyss. Candle molds. Presented by Miss Louise Baxter, Mrs. W. J. McMurray, Mrs. M. A. Spurr, and Mrs. George L. Cowan. Pothooks and Flax Hacker. Used in Revolutionary days. Presented by Miss Louise Baxter and Miss Louise G. Lindsley. Some of the original kitchen utensils. Presented by Mrs. Andrew Jackson III. Copper kettle given to Rachel Jackson by Peggy O’Neal. Old grease lamp, given by Mrs. W. A. Hargis. Original water cooler. Always used in the pantry. Brass kettle. Presented by Mrs. Whitefoord Cole. Original churn of Jackson’s. Loaned by Miss Emma Hoffstetter. Six dish covers, pair tongs of Major Andrew Jackson Donelson’s. Presented by Mrs. Bettie M. Donelson. Original old wafer irons. Presented by Mrs. L. D. Hill and Mrs John K. Maddin. Original kitchen “safe,” for keeping food. Pie tins and custard cups, used by Aunt Betty, the cook. Original spice jars, brought from China. Original flour and meal chest. Original chest which contained Decatur silver (see letter in Museum). Original brass kettles, used for preserving. Plate given by Mary Hook, once used at the Hermitage. Iron spit, given by Mary Felice Ferrell. The bells overhead on the back porch were rung from the parlor and front door.
The Old Smokehouse
Original trough for salting meat made from one log, presented by Mrs. Cleves Symmes, granddaughter of Jackson’s adopted son.
The iron kettle, used for rendering lard, was given by Mrs. E. W. Graham, great-great-grandniece of Rachel Jackson. The imitation hams show how they were hung from the beams.
A normal supply of meat for the 100 slaves, family and guests when hogs were killed was from 20,000 to 25,000 pounds.
The Garden
It was designed by William Frost, a well-known English Landscapist, and it is considered by authorities to be an outstanding example of early American garden design.
More than an acre in area, the garden contains about fifty varieties of old fashioned plants and great hickory and magnolia trees planted by General Jackson.
Other interesting varieties of trees in the garden and on the grounds have markers showing their common and botanical names.
Copy of an old English sundial given by Thomas H. Berry. Base given by James W. Pearre.
The tomb of General and Mrs. Jackson is in the south-east corner of the garden, and many other members of their family and household are buried in the plot nearby.
