Visiting Andrew Jackson's Hermitage was an unforgettable experience. The grounds are beautiful,…read morepeaceful, and full of history, and the mansion itself is incredibly well preserved. Walking through the home, gardens, and historic buildings really gives you a glimpse into life during that time period. The museum exhibits and tour guides were informative and engaging, making the history come alive in a meaningful way. My favorite part was exploring the property and learning both about Andrew Jackson's legacy and the deeper stories connected to the people who lived and worked there. It's a must-visit for anyone interested in American history and one of the most impressive historic sites around Nashville.

Visiting Andrew Jackson's Hermitage was an incredible experience and a must-see if you're in the…read moreNashville area. The grounds are absolutely beautiful -- peaceful, well-maintained, and rich with history. Touring the mansion really brings the 1800s to life, and the guides do an excellent job explaining both the achievements and the complexities of Andrew Jackson's legacy. I appreciated that the presentation didn't shy away from the harder parts of history, which made the experience feel honest and educational. Walking the property, seeing the gardens, and visiting Jackson's tomb gave the visit a reflective and meaningful feel. You can easily spend a few hours exploring without feeling rushed. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for something unique to do outside of downtown Nashville, The Hermitage is well worth the trip. Educational, scenic, and thoughtfully presented.

This tour was extremely interesting and full of fantastic information. Our guide was a young man…read morenamed Canyon and he grew up close to Rock Castle. He made the tour, for 13 people, wonderful. The details: Several rooms had original furniture and original windows. Other pieces were time-period specific and a good match to the original pieces. Details were carefully laid out and each room was completed in a thoughtful manner. What a piece of Tennessee history. We need to preserve this house and these tours!

My family was impressed with the knowledge of our tour guide, a young man who said he is from the…read morearea. He had a lot of knowledge of the area and also of the history. He made this tour terrific. He was able to present the historical facts in an interesting manner and explain things. He encouraged questions and answered them. He pointed out special features of the house that I would've overlooked. Unfortunately I don't remember his name, but try to get this young man as your tour guide.

Great building with tons of history and character.... also where I had to go to court.....This…read morebuilding is AMAZING...I had to go here today for court..so I was so excited to able to enter the building. There is a historical market: The cornerstone was laid Sept. 19, 1877, by President Rutherford B. Hayes on the first visit of a president to the South since the Civil War. Opened in 1882 at 701 Broadway, it originally housed the city's post office on the ground floor. The federal Treasury Department offices were on the second, and Justice Department and courtrooms on the third I went a little early so I could walk around the building and take some really nice photos of this building..The character of the Architecture reminds me of Victorian Artistry.. Additional Historical information I found on the internet about this building: A beautiful, stately, ornate building that served the Nashville area for almost a century before being cast aside, the Customs House is a reminder of what government can do right with architecture. It is one of the finest pieces of Victorian architecture in Tennessee and was abuzz with activity until the late 20th century when the United States government decided it didn't want the building anymore. Fortunately, the Nashville Metropolitan Government did, and took possession of the building for redevelopment. 1877 - The cornerstone of this building is laid by President Hayes. 1882 - The clock tower is completed. 1903 - The rear portion of the building is completed. 1916 - The wings of the building are completed. 1972 - The building is added to the National Register of Historic Places. 1979 - Ownership is transferred from the federal government to the local government. When President Rutherford B. Hayes laid the cornerstone of the Customs House on September 19, 1877, it symbolized the end of Southern Reconstruction after the Civil War. Approval for a federal building dates to 1856, but construction delays and the Civil War caused Nashville to wait for more than twenty years for a facility to house federal courts, customs, and post office. Treasury architect William Appleton Potter designed this grand example of the Victorian Gothic style. From its massive yet ornate stone block a central clock tower soars. The many rich details, such as the Gothic lancet windows and a deeply inset triple-arch entrance, make this an exceptional example of Victorian Gothic architecture. In the 1990s the Customs House was declared surplus property by the federal government and was turned over to Metro Nashville government which worked toward its renovation and reuse. The building is now leased from the city by a private firm which renovated its interior and leases the space to office tenants - a significant milestone in historic preservation in Nashville. I am not sure if everyone is interested in the historical aspect of the building, this surplus Federal Property is now owned by Nashville Metro. I hope it is NEVER DESTROYED...

If you got some time to do some sightseeing this is a great building to take a few moments to…read moreappreciate! The design of the building was just beautiful. With the crazy life of bars, listening to music, hopping from place to place in downtown, this was a great place to just sit and admire the building. Take a few pictures of this place some up close on the sidewalk and maybe even across the street if your into the whole I need an entire full length picture. Traffic does not seem to be busy at all during the week around 7-8ish.

A place to experience history up close ... also to mourn and reflect on humanity, and remember our…read morecountry's history. This often overlooked area of visiting The Hermitage brought me sorrow and inspiration. I would recommend you bring some tissues and take your time. The placards explaining each of the sites are not to be missed, giving perspective and insight into our past.

I frequently drive by the entrance to this mansion, but had never visited. So on another…read moreunseasonably warm February Sunday, my four-legged pal and I ventured to check it out. The drive up to the house is narrow...and I actually love that. Despite the modern day pave, it's so reminiscent of the era. The signage is a bit lacking (looks like they're in the process of replacing it), but I quickly figured to continue around to the back side of the house and park in one of the painted spaces there. We started out by walking around the house itself. It's a beautiful place. I especially loved the glass bottles I could see sitting on some on the window sills. I wonder if they're original to the house? The steps leading to the front porch were cabled off, so we weren't permitted to get a closer look. The State of Tennessee owns this property now, and it's presently being used as offices for the Historical Commission. They do not provide tours, but they have installed placards throughout the property grounds as a means of a self-guided tour. Aside from these grounds previously serving as a private plantation to at least three different families, it has also served as a residence to staff of the Tennessee School for the Blind. (The school is still located next door to this property.) The entire property is fenced with a drive in the front (from Lebanon Pike), and a gravel road in the back leading to a service road of sorts. It's adjacent to the Stones River Greenway. On the land in front of the house, aside from the drive itself, there is another paved path for non-motorized traffic. Great for walking. The land in the back is comprised of mostly open fields, with several more historical buildings throughout. There are several barns, two cabins that were once slave quarters, and a chicken coop. Two of the barns that are just marked as State property with no trespassing signs...both of which have seen better days! I obeyed the signage and did not go inside these structures, but they sure do look to be possessing a whole bunch of...junk. One is even housing an old claw foot bathtub! There's also a "newer" house off in the back that I believe was built after the State had purchased it. The graves of the first family that owned this plantation can be found nearby, but are not located within the fenced property of the house. They're directly behind the YMCA. Definitely worth a Sunday stroll for another piece of Nashville history. Just note: While I found dumpster there I could throw doggie waste into, I did not see any restrooms open to the public. P.S. I drafted this review prior to the tornadoes that hit Nashville last week, which greatly impacted this area. However, in the days since, I have confirmed the main house is still standing. I am uncertain at this time if the property sustained any damage, or how extensive it may be.

Driving along this quiet road, I saw this historical sign. Being a history fanatic, I pulled over…read moreand had to learn what this piece of land represented within the moving sands of time. Other than this sign on the road, there was nothing to indicate that this house was anything but a private residence. However, the exterior of the house was stunning. We need to preserve these spots, we need to remember that history is formed by moments and lives.

We had our reception here!…read more Kathy was so accommodating and friendly. This house was a great option for a wedding reception. Affordable, historic, indoor/outdoor options in case of weather. Our friends and family really enjoyed it. They have tables and chairs included with the rental. No crazy rules - just the usual (licensed bartender, watch the walls, etc.) We were fortunate to have a very lovely September day. The place was particularly pretty at sunset. We did almost everything ourselves. Set up, had catering brought in, cakes, bar; which was important. We wanted to have vendor options and this allowed us to do that. There is also plenty of parking. They let people park on the front lawn, as needed. Somehow, it went pretty flawlessly. At the time, the rental ran us just $800 for the day. Not bad for a wedding venue. I strongly suggest contacting them for an event. The space is really unique and easy to get to. We would definitely rent for another event in the future.

Our Brain Aneurysm Survivor group had our annual meeting here in early September. The home is…read moreamazing. A great place to meet. It is well maintained and comfortable. It is easy to find and has plenty of parking. Kathy was so helpful and accommodating. She made it so easy to arrange our meeting.

Beautiful venue, look at the pictures. One thing that isn't shown in the pictures is the absolute…read moredisaster of a staff that runs the place. Speaking to that woman Laura made me wish I was instead dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles. She couldn't have been more disrespectful if she was headlining a Roast. Not only was her attitude a perpetual black cloud hovering over the reception, but her total lack of understanding of the activities that take place at a typical wedding left her to cluelessly complain about the audacity of the patrons to drink, dance, and celebrate while at (of all places) a wedding. I know, I know... how outrageous of us. So if you do decide to choose this as a venue for an upcoming event, know that going in. It would probably be in your best interests to request that Laura be given the night off. It speaks to the level of this woman's mismanagement that her mere presence on the site is enough to overshadow the beauty of the venue itself. Laura, please let me know if you feel I am at all incorrect, I'd be happy to expand on any point in question. Best wishes.

We booked this mansion for a photography course. First, we were thirty minutes late. When we…read morearrived, we walked around knocking at all the locked doors with no answer. 20 minutes later, the caretaker opens up the door and tells us she heard the alarm go on but didn't open the door- even though we were booked months ahead and she should have been expecting us that day. She gave us free reign of the place for the two hours. Although it is beautiful, there were venue tables all over the bottom level, holiday decorations scattered all over the furniture, and it was filthy. Of course, we needed to move furniture and items around to make room for great shots. We have shot at many mansions before and usually in the contract it states either we can move stuff around but return it to it's rightful place or an employee follows us around and does all the item moving. There was nothing in the contract and when we were finally finished, the caretaker came up and freaked out that we had moved stuff. She said she didn't know that we were going to do that. One of the items we had to move was a Christmas tree which broke in half and accidentally knocked over a vase on the toilet. When we apologized and said that it broke because we had to move the holiday decorations (not because we just picked it up and decided to break it), the caretaker says, so 'it's my fault' and just slammed the door. If you are holding a venue here or any other event, I suggest that you look elsewhere as the whole experience and price is not worth it.

Printer's Alley is a historic, vibrant nightlife district known for its speakeasy-style bars, live…read morejazz, blues, and rock music. Originally the city's printing hub in the early 1900s, it transformed into a popular entertainment alley in the 1940s, providing a "grittier", more intimate alternative to Broadway's honky-tonks. Our experience here included an evening of drinks and music at Alley Taps, and just enjoying a few walks up and down the street. We had already learned some of the history here from our Joyride tour, which added nicely to our exposure.

3.5 stars…read more Printer's Alley prints the chapter of an alley with two chapters. In chapter one it served as Nashville's printing hub in the early 1900s. In the second chapter that dates from the 1940s to the time of this writing, it is a nightclub and bar destination. In contrast to the nearby Broadway-Honkeytonk Highway, it is far smaller. It is two blocks long bounded by Commerce Street to the south, 4th Avenue to the west, Union Street to the North, and 3rd Avenue to the east. For purposes of this review, I am rating it from the perspective of walking in it during the late morning. When I experienced Printer's Alley it was part of a walk through Downtown Nashville. In the late morning it was quiet. I walked it a couple of times. From the northernmost point at Union Street to the southernmost point at Commerce Street it was a 0.21 mile walk that took six minutes. Unlike the nearby Honky Tonk Highway, it was very laid back and had an off the beaten path to it although it is a block from Broadway. I was impressed with the cleaniness of the alleyway. The historic buildings were free of graffiti and vandalism. That created a better perception of safety. Along the way there were a few signs that told the Printer's Alley story. One of them says, "Probation ends here." I noticed that the largest concentration of nightclubs and other businesses were just north of Church Street. The string lights called attention to these businesses. From my time in historic Printer's Alley, I saw that it was bookended by two modern buildings: UBS Center to the north and the At&T Building-the Tallest Building in Tennessee to the south. I cannot help but note that if the AT&T Building weren't there that possibly Printer's Alley could connect to Broadway. From a daytime perspective I give Printer's Alley Three Stars. In the daytime it is an interesting place to walk through as a part of a Downtown Nashville hike.

Mansker's Station is a historic landmark located in Moss Wright Park…read more Kasper Manskin settled in this area and established his own forted station. This is a recreation of a forced station from the era around 1779 to 1790. This is a great place to visit. It is hard to imagine how very different this bustling community back in the later part of the 1700's. If you are in the area, I would definitely recommend a visit to Historic Mansker's Station.

What a wonderful way to revisit the past and enjoy the present. This location was a critical part…read moreof developing the Nashville area. I was researching the period for a book and learned many cool things, making sure to include the site in the book. Go and enjoy, get a tour. There's a great lunch spot nearby with healthy and delicious food.