The Hermitage - Home of President Andrew Jackson

On Sunday, 30 Oct, we went to Andrew Jackson home, The Hermitage.  Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States.  For most of his adult life he lived at The Hermitage, a mansion and cotton plantation in Nashville.  The mansion is preserved much the way it looked when he was alive.  We were not able to take any photos inside the mansion.  Almost all the things in The Hermitage, including the furniture and decorations are the exact ones that were there when Andrew Jackson lived there.  Even the books and newspapers in his office are the ones he owned and read when he was alive.

These are Belted Galloway cattle that live on the property

View along the path to the mansion

  You are met at the front door of the mansion by ladies
in period clothing who guide you through the mansion.

The back of the mansion

Here is the tomb of Andrew and his wife Rachel Jackson.
Rachel Jackson died first, on December 22, 1828.  She
 died after her husband was elected president, but before
  he assumed office.

The tomb of Alfred Jackson, a slave born at the Hermitage
 and remained until his death.  He was buried in the
 garden next to Andrew Jackson's tomb.

The small family graveyard next to Andrew and Rachel's tomb

Walkway through the garden to the graveyard.

This log cabin was the home of the slave Alfred.  He lived at
 the Hermitage longer than anyone else. 

The interior of Alfred's cabin

   This cabin was the "First Hermitage".  Andrew and Rachel
lived  here before they built the big house.  When the
     Jackson's lived here the farmhouse was two stories.  The
 first floor was removed when they moved into the house.
  It was then used as a home for one of his slave families.  

One of the Belted Galloway cows

A cotton field....Sandy is in the middle picking cotton.

Hermitage Church.  The Jackson family attended for many years.

Tennessee Confederate Soldiers Cemetery located on the
 grounds of The Hermitage property.  There are 483
 veterans buried here.

The road leading onto the Hermitage property.  

After all the walking we did we were hungry
so stopped here for dinner.  

The Grand Ole Opry

On Saturday night, 29 Oct, we went to the Grand Ole Opry House.  The Grand Ole Opry is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States and is broadcast live on the radio at 650 AM WSM at 7 p.m. Central Time every Saturday night.   Because it is a live radio show there are commercials between performances.  The show is divided into four 30 minute segments each having a sponsor and a host who performs and introduces the performers.  The show we attended included Commercials for Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, U.S. Bank, Dollar General and Humana.  Performers were Jimmy Dickens (Host), The Whites, The Grascals, Mike Snider (Host), Lee Greenwood,  Clint Black,  John Conlee (Host), Connie Smith, Gretchen Wilson, Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely (Host), and Charlie Daniels Band.  It was Charlie Daniels 75th Birthday celebration.  It was a fun evening.  You will notice there is an 8 foot circle of hardwood placed at center stage.  It was taken from the Ryman to keep the Grand Ole Opry in touch with the tradition of the Ryman.

 Jimmy Dickens 

 The Grascals

 Lee Greenwood

 Clint Black

 Clint Black

 Gretchen Wilson

 Gretchen Wilson

 John Conlee

 Charlie Daniels

Charlie Daniels was surprised by MG Max Haston of the Tennessee National Guard with a promotion to Brigadier General of the National Guard!

Members of the Tennessee National Guard joined Charlie Daniels on stage

Charlie Daniels 75th Birthday

The Ryman Auditorium

On Saturday morning Ray went to the Ryman Auditorium.  It was one place he really wanted to see.  So he was able to go on a tour.  In 1943 the Opry found a home at the Ryman.  For 31 years the Ryman served as the stage for the Opry's live radio show.  It was built in 1892 by Tom Ryman and was opened as  the Union Gospel Tabernacle.  After Ryman's death in 1904 the Tabernacle was renamed Ryman Auditorium in his honor.  The Ryman stage is also known as the birthplace of Bluegrass.  Many legends have appeared at the Ryman.  In 1974 the Opry moved to its new location.  The Ryman Auditorium is a National Landmark.  They still have concerts at the Ryman and the Grand Old Opry will do their radio show from the Ryman during the month of November.

 The front of the Ryman Auditorium

 The wall with the posters of stars who are appearing.  

 Bronze statue of Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl

Tootsies is lounge across the alley from the Ryman.  Many performers would go across to the lounge after they finished at the Ryman and make a surprise appearance.  Many still do.

A tour bus Ray saw leaving the Ryman

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

This morning we got up to wind and cold rain.  We had breakfast and then headed into Nashville to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  What a great museum, especially if you are a country music fan.  We were told to plan at least 3 hours to go through the museum and they were right.  It is a journey through country music.  You start on the 3rd floor where the journey begins with folk roots to the 1960s.  I'm not familiar with a lot of the early singers but Ray seems to know them all.  There was a fun film showing country music's impact on television history.  On the 2nd floor there is an exhibit on the Williams Family legacy.  Lots of photos, stories and films of Hank William's accomplishments and great heartaches including the career of his son Hank Williams Jr.  A very interesting exhibit.  Then they continue with entertainers through the 70s, 80s, 90's up to today's hitmakers.  Each floor has a Gold Record Wall.  Then you take the road to the Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda.  This special room was designed to recognize the Hall of Fame members in a style befitting this high honor.  The members plaques are placed randomly around the room.  The room is round to be sure that every Hall of Fame member has a place of equal importance.  The first members were inducted in 1961.  On the 1st floor is the Museum store and a full service restaurant.  
After over three hours in the museum we came outside to a cold wind but the rain had stopped.  We walked up to the Ryman Auditorium, but it was already closed.  So we walked up Broadway past all the restaurants, bars, and cafes.  Live country music was coming out of each one.  We walked back to the parking lot and headed back to the RV Park.  We were hungry after all that walking so we stopped at the Caney Fork Restaurant.  Ray had his Mississippi catfish and I had the best baby back ribs I've had in a long time.  We were no longer hungry.

 Example of one of the many displays

 Gold Record Wall

 Hank Williams exhibit

 Alan Jackson display

 Reba McEntire is the newest member for 2011

 Looking down on the Two Twenty Two Grill