Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

I couldn't drive through Nashville without taking a few hours to tour the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home just outside of town. This place is not only beautiful on the outside, but every room is furnished with the original furniture which President Jackson used. They will not allow pictures inside the building, but suffice it to say it is beautiful.

The wall paper in the entrance hall was manufactured in Paris, France, and features a scene taken from Homer's Illiad. It still looks beautiful.

A hero in the war of 1812, Jackson and his army drove the British from New Orleans, and rode his popularity from that victory to the Presidency. No wonder Andrew Jackson Elementary School bears his name. The "Battle of New Orleans" was fought in Chalmette!

The view from the back porch is shown above. The home was a part of a cotton plantation, and the rustic building in this picture was one of the slave quarters.

Tonight, I'm in Laurel, MS, about two hours and fifteen minutes from Chalmette. I'll have time to see some of Chalmette on Sunday before the SAINTS play the Chicago Bears for the Championship. I don't think I'll see many people on the street during the Saints game.