The Andrew Jackson Foundation has announced plans for a major transformation of The Hermitage, including a new approximately 70,000-square-foot Visitor and Education Center, restored historic spaces, expanded interpretation and new visitor amenities across the 1,120-acre site. More Local Living News
The broader vision, called “Held by the Land,” places the historic landscape at the center of the visitor experience. Created by architecture firm Perkins&Will, the plan calls for much of the new Visitor and Education Center to sit below grade and follow the natural contours of the property.
A new tree-lined approach and redesigned walking paths are intended to preserve historic views while helping visitors connect with the landscape before they reach the mansion. The goal is to create a more immersive experience that reflects how the property would have appeared when Andrew Jackson lived there.
“The Hermitage is more than a presidential home. It is a place where some of the most consequential and complicated chapters of American history unfolded,” said Jason Zajac, president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation in a release. “We have an immense responsibility to preserve this place while making sure the story we tell reflects the full history of the people who lived, worked and were enslaved here, as well as the nation shaped during Jackson’s lifetime and presidency.”
The new Visitor and Education Center would replace the current facility, which opened in 1989. The Hermitage now cares for approximately 800,000 objects, but space limitations allow only a fraction of the collection to be displayed.
The full transformation is estimated to cost $132 million, with funding expected to come primarily from private donations, along with public support and grants.
Planning is already underway for an initial $6 million project that includes a new Visitor Comfort Facility and outdoor amphitheater, also designed by Perkins&Will. The climate-controlled facility is expected to include seating, snacks, new restrooms and staff support space while being incorporated into the landscape to preserve views from the mansion.
That project is being funded through a state appropriation designated for capital improvements at The Hermitage.
“The Hermitage is an important part of Tennessee’s history and helps tell the story of our state and our nation,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “I’m grateful for the General Assembly’s partnership to invest in this historic landmark and ensure its legacy is preserved for generations to come.”
Perkins&Will was selected through a competitive design process that began with a request for qualifications in January. Six firms responded, with three finalists ultimately presenting five concepts to a design committee.
The Andrew Jackson Foundation Board of Trustees unanimously approved the vision on Sept. 21.
“The new Visitor and Education Center will transport guests and raise the bar on the educational experience available at The Hermitage for generations to come,” said James A. Haltom, regent of the Board of Trustees. “This vision allows us to tell a broader, fuller and more interconnected story of Jackson, the people who lived and worked at The Hermitage, and the rapidly changing nation in which they lived.”
The foundation is also working with Gallagher & Associates on the museum and interpretive experience. Plans call for expanded exhibits, greater access to the site’s artifact collection and the use of new technology to engage students and visitors.
The foundation said additional details about the construction timeline and future exhibits will be announced as planning continues.
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