Arriving as the sun set, it was a beautiful as well as eerie ambiance beginning the evening at The Hermitage for our Ghost Tour. Meeting our guide in the dark corridors in front of the entrance, we started as a group huddled together in the dark making our way into the museum. To begin the tour, we had an overview of Andrew Jackson and models of how he and his wife, Rachel, looked and dressed during that era.
With just a few lanterns to guide the way, we began our trek to the mansion where Jackson had lived. The path was partially lit and the walkway was a bit uneven, but still a nice stroll. It was definitely a fun walk and set the stage for the next stop at the front of the mansion where ghost stories of the Bell Witch and Jackson’s encounter were told. As we entered the mansion, we were given permission to take photos inside, which is normally not allowed during regular tours, and made it extra special.
Stepping back in time, the mansion revealed how lovely Rachel had decorated the home with her favorite French wall paper in the main area. As we toured the bedrooms, stories of Jackson’s gory duel and bullet wounds were told. Each room had its own character, including sharing an experience where one of the care takers after 20 years of service will no longer go into the home without being escorted.
After the mansion, we then proceeded to the family cemetery. The tomb of Jackson and Rachel were the centerpiece of the grounds. As we walked back through the garden returning to the mansion, it was really dark and quiet. We took a few pictures of the outdoor kitchen area and realized the group had swiftly made their return to the museum.
This was a wonderful experience and great history lesson. The atmosphere set the stage and the tour was a perfect amount of history and spooky, but not scary, as the children on the tour also enjoyed it. It was definitely interesting being on historical grounds with so much history at dark. I will probably wait until my little ones are a little older to benefit from the history of the tour, but this makes a great family event for the season!
For more information on Ghost Tours at The Hermitage, visit their Events page.
Mary Belle Badman is happily married to a Badman. She loves being a stay-at-home mom to her two active boys, Finian (5) and Brighton (2). She lives in survival mode but enjoys the new adventures motherhood offers every day.
