Andrew Jackson's Hermitage: Official Guidebook

While we were at the Hermitage in Nashville, we picked up the Official Guidebook for $15.

It was a nice souvenir to take home.  Also, as no photography is allowed on the home tour, the book does have some nice photos from inside.  There are appropriate descriptions by the photos too.

If I go back I would probably take this book with me to kind of follow along as I walk along the property.

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee

I know this might sound weird, but we FINALLY made it to the Hermitage after several missed chances to visit.

For several years, we have planned a long weekend trip to visit Stones River and the Hermitage, but something always came up...  usually weather.  We have actually been in Nashville and had other stuff come up too.  Anyway, we were glad that we finally got to see the home and final resting site of Andrew Jackson!

We arrived right as the visitor center opened at 8:30 on a Sunday!  We felt like we had the place to ourselves for the first hour or two!  it was exciting walking around the grounds almost by ourselves!

The house tour is packed with sites and information, but it is a relatively short tour.  Photography is not allowed in the house, but you can find a ton of pictures online.  I did pick up a lot of postcards in the gift shop, and a nice guidebook covering the home.

Beside the home is the garden that Rachel, Jackson's wife, started and loved so much.  Only flowers from the Jackson's time period are planted here now.  Andrew and Rachel are both buried there, along with several family members, and a slave named Alfred.

Alfred lived on the property longer than anyone else.  He actually became one of the first tour guides when the home was opened up for tours!

Though Jackson was all about the Union, he had descendants who fought for the South.  In fact, continuing with a theme on this trip, we saw a sign about Bedford Forrest visiting the Hermitage during the Civil War.

After exploring the home and garden, we went on a great horse and buggy ride around the grounds.  There was an additional charge for this, but we absolutely loved this, and it was the highlight of the visit.  I did not catch the guide/driver's name, but he was really fun and informative.  He talked a lot about slave life (including the "underground" life of the slaves on the property).

before leaving, we went to the café on the property and had a very nice meal. 

Sam Davis House in Smyrna Tennessee

The Sam Davis house in Smyrna Tennessee is the home of Sam Davis.  Sam Davis was a Confederate soldier who was captured while acting as a courier.  He was charged with espionage, and pretty much sentenced to hang.  He was told that if he would give the names of his informants, his life would be spared.

Sam refused to name names, and he was hanged.  The accounts describe him as being very brave during the whole ordeal.  Afterwards, the 21 year old was celebrated as a heroic martyr by the South.

And now tours are given of his home.  He is buried on the property, and a nice museum is housed inside too. 

It was around $24 for the two of us.  We had a very friendly guide who I believe was named Taylor who showed us around.

We saw several slave quarters and went through the home.  Of course the film in the museum and our guide both told us about Sam Davis.

This tour had a lot going for it, and I think we were here for at least a couple of hours.  They actually have bee hives here now too, and you can actually purchase some Sam Davis honey in the gift shop!

We did not know about this at all, but, in 2016, one of the Blue Angles, Jeff Kuss, actually crashed on the property.

Jeff Kuss was flying his plane when something went wrong.  It seems that Kuss could have ejected out of the plane and saved his own life, but others would potentially be in harms way with an unmanned plane in the air.  Jeff stayed with his plane and crashed it in the vacant field- sacrificing his life as he stayed in control of the plane and the situation.

Taylor told us they do not advertise this incident, or really mention it that often, as the home does not want to exploit this tragedy.  There is a small monument on the property to Kuss, and he did point out the general area where the wreck occurred.

After our tour, which was the last one of the day, and we were the last visitors on the property, our guide stuck around to answer questions and to chat some.  We also realized that our guide left shortly after us (he was obviously staying a bit late for our benefit).  We really appreciated that....  he didn't run us off so he could get home on time or anything!

So, I think it is obvious that we were really glad that we got to stop here.

Santa Claus at the Fashion Mall at Keystone, Indianapolis, Indiana

 I have mentioned the Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis MANY times.  I have specifically mentioned my love for their Santa (here, and here).

Sadly, I received word that Santa's official representative at Keystone, Alan Gozy passed away in September.  His sibling Jeryl sent me a message recently with the news.

Alan obviously touched the hearts of a lot of people.  I know that he took advantage of the opportunity to bring a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion to both children and adults.

Stones River National Battlefield Murfreesboro Tennessee

Here are just a few photos we took while at the Stones River National Battlefield near Nashville.

There is a museum/visitor center, a battlefield tour, and a cemetery that are all here.  For $8, we bought a battlefield tour CD and drove around the park as the CD instructed.

Just Love Coffee- Murfreesboro, Tennessee

I found another great coffee shop near Nashville.  Check out "Just Love Coffee".  We stopped here before spending the day at Stones River.

Just Love reminded me a little of Heine Bros. in Louisville.  It seems to be a very small chain located mostly around Nashville.

The coffee was good, and the vibe inside of the shop was very pleasant.

Square Market & Cafe in Columbia Tennessee

Check out the Square Market & Café in Columbia Tennessee! 

We stopped by for a great meal while we were in the area.  I had a really nice Reuben and tomato soup while here.  The service was friendly and the place was absolutely spotless.  This was just a nice, cheery little place to visit while on the road.

AND, I can't say enough about Columbia in general......

Columbia Tennessee

We visited Columbia Tennessee way back in 2015, and I have been looking for an excuse to get back ever since!

This is one of the most perfect little small-town downtowns I have ever found.....  great bookstore, music shop, coffee shop, restaurants....  check, check, check.  I really love the square in this town and all that it has going on.

When we visited last time, we found the Old Curiosity Bookshop.  We visited again, though it is now called Duck River Books.  This bookstore is attractive and has a great selection.

We also love Muletown Coffee!  We stopped by as we were looking for a lunch spot.  The gang there recommended several places on the square which we appreciated.  We came back later for some great coffee and pastries here.

I can't tell you how many times I have visited an area and thought to myself, "this is a town that is one bookstore or coffee shop away from being perfect."  I am sure you have experienced that too.  You are somewhere very cool, but the area is just not there yet.  Well, Columbia is there. 

"Fort Pillow" by Harry Turtledove

I read the very well written novel "Fort Pillow" by Harry Turtledove recently.

Whew, where do I start........

Harry Turtledove is a prolific author whose work I have avoided.  I know he has turned out a bunch of alternate history novels.  I DO think this stuff (alternate history) is fascinating, but I worry that, if I read it, I might confuse it in my mind for actual history.  You know, you might be talking about the Civil War with someone and remember reading about something that happened in a battle.  Well, did you read that in an actual book about the battle, or did you read that in a "what if scenario" book?  I could see me getting really confused.

Anyway, that's just my thoughts on that.

I might have to rethink that opinion some though.  After reading this book, I have to say that I really enjoy Mr. Turtledove's writing style, and the way he thinks about (and writes about) a historic event that is historic, but the exact details are uncertain.  "Fort Pillow" is fiction- Harry is speculating about how things happened at this battle.  Accounts exist from two opposite sides, and both sides without a doubt exaggerated and downplayed details to fit their needs.  I think Harry Turtledove gives a very honest telling (considering all available sources) of what probably happened.  Indeed, this work of historic fiction may be the most honest account of the event.

The book gives the story one of the most barbaric defeats that the south handed the Yankees in the Civil War.  It was easily one of the most merciless beatings dished out by the South.

Current history has focused on the fact that the southern forces were headed by Nathan Bedford Forrest (former slave trader and one of the Confederacy's most feared leaders) who attacked Fort Pillow.  The Tennessee Fort was manned mostly by African American soldiers, and Union soldiers from Tennessee.  Both groups were not exactly loved by Forrest's men.

The story gets bad quickly, as command of the Fort fumbles several opportunities to surrender (yes, I did just say "opportunities to surrender") and the Union soldiers find themselves in the perfect storm of an angry enemy's wrath.

Turtledove tells the story of what probably happened during the battle, using accounts from both sides, and balancing them out logically.  He devotes a few pages at the end to discuss the known facts, and how some accounts must have been exaggerated, and used as propaganda.

Chapel Hill, TN

After our visit to the Forrest Boyhood Home, we followed some directions that Gene Andrews gave us, and we visited the actual monument constructed on (near) the actual Nathan Bedford Forrest birth site in Chapel Hill Tennessee.

I also stopped by the post office to collect a postmark!

Nathan Bedford Forrest Memorial at Pilot Knob, near Camden, Tennessee

This old but unsent postcard tells on the back-

On Nov. 4th, 1864 Gen Forrest and his cavalry burned and sank, with artillery fire, nineteen Union Vessels, gunboats and supply boats, which were tied up at the wharf at Johnsonville on the East shore of Tennessee River (Now Kentucky Lake) across from this location known as Pilot Knob.  They destroyed immense stores of Union supplies accumulated there, which were for re-shipment to Sherman's army.

The Life and Times of Old Bedford- by Steve Ford

I wanted to give a huge recommendation to "The Life and Times of Old Bedford" by artist Steve Ford.

I picked this up at the Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home and I have really enjoyed it.  Not only is it a great telling of the life of Forrest, it is also amazingly illustrated.

I didn't want to scan any of the great pieces of art from the inside, you can get an idea of the quality of art from the back cover.  Also, go on over to Steve's website to see more of his lively art.

Old Bedford is so well done....  I have no idea how much time Steve put into this, but it had to have been a lot.

The Life and Times of Old Bedford gets my highest possible recommendation.

Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home in Tennessee

On the same day we visited Elm Springs, we were able to also visit the Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home.

The home is managed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  The house has a caretaker, Gene Andrews, who is there often, and you have to give him a call to schedule a time to stop by.  I called him a few days before our visit and found the whole process to be a lot easier than I expected.  Gene was very friendly and said that he would be around most of the day we would be in town, so we could just come by whenever.

We arrived and Gene came over to give us a tour.  He was obviously in the middle of clearing up some debris but he seemed happy to tell us all about the home and Forrest's time there.

Forrest was here as a child from 1830-1833.  He would actually return here during the Civil War.


The home itself is an amazing structure that was built in the 1820s, and was occupied until the 1970s when the State took it over.  The SCV took it over in the 90s, and they have done a lot of work on it.  Gene told us about some great work that locals have helped complete on the home.  A local boy scout group has also done a lot of great volunteer work on the home.

The inside and outside parts of the home are spectacular.  Gene and the SCV have put a lot of work into the home and property.  Anyone with an interest in the Civil War, Forrest, or amazingly preserved and restored old homes should stop by to see the place.  To be honest, I felt like the home had more of a "Little House on the Prairie" vibe going on.

Several musicians have used the home for settings in music videos.  The country duo Joey + Rory used it for their "Josephine" video.  Gene said that they were great people to work with.

The SCV asks for $5 a person to come by and see the home.  I think the two of us were there for a couple of hours on what was basically a private tour.....  so I think this is obviously more of a labor of love than a profit making venture for Gene and the SCV.  It gets my highest recommendation.