We love country music from George Jones to Morgan Wallen and everyone in between! But, with only 2 days to spend in Nashville and perfect weather, my husband, Doug, and I chose to check out the historic mansions to learn more about the history of the area.
Day 1: We visited the Belle Meade Historic Mansion & Winery. This Greek Revival mansion built in 1853 was gorgeous from the stunning carriage house to the beautiful mansion. We enjoyed the lavish antiques and decor. We were not allowed to take photos inside the mansion, so we only have photos outside. The grounds were decorated with fall flowers and pumpkins.
Hearing the stories about the Harding and Jackson families along with African- American slaves including wives and children, it was apparent that people were either wealthy, a slave, or lived like a slave. Wives and children were also required to work long hours. Even when slaves were free and worked under a contract after the 13th amendment, many of them struggled with a hard life including very low pay, rations of food, harsh discipline, and even arrest if they broke the contract and tried to flee. It was a very hard time for slaves and people who were not wealthy.
We enjoyed walking through the carriage house to view various carriages and sleds used during that time period. Since raising horses was one of the ways they made money, the property consisted of 30+ acres, stables, and barns.
The tour ended with a free wine tasting of 4 different wines including a muscadine wine that reminded me of a time in my childhood when my Mom made wine, but it exploded in our china cabinet😳
I would love to visit again and hear more in depth stories of the lives of the enslaved people including how they endured and their motivation for a better life.
Our next stop was Belmont Mansion, a mansion on the campus of Belmont University. The Belmont Mansion was built by the Aclens between 1850 and 1860 before the Civil War. It had contained 36 rooms, a water tower (still standing today), large greenhouse , numerous slave houses, and even a zoo. It had been the largest home in Tennessee before the Civil War. Certain rooms of the mansion had been occupied by the Union army during the Civil War.
Stepping into the exquisitely decorated mansion, gave us the idea of what it would have been like to have attended one of their parties that lasted all day included over 20 different courses of food in the huge dining room. The mansion has been restored with some of the original furniture, paintings, wallpaper, custom made China, and sculptures. The wood floors had been restored and painted to look like marble. We were told the painted floors and rose -tinted glass windows throughout the home were a symbol of wealth during that time period.
Day 2: Andrew Jackson Hermitage- The tour of the Andrew Jackson ( our 7th president) Hermitage was a favorite of mine because it truly depicted how life was during that time period, not just by the mansion, but also by the tour of the grounds including the smokehouse, outdoor kitchen, slave cabins, and cemetery.
A guided tour was provided through the mansion similar to the guided tours of the other mansions. However the self-guided audio tour provided much information detailing what life was like for everyone including the Jackson family and the many slaves that lived on the property.
So many stories!! They told about the use of different bells and their meanings- “we need help in The house”, “passing out rations of food/clothing”, "we have news", or “disciplining slaves”. Each bell had a different meaning.
They told about the struggle with growing cotton in Tennessee. Since it takes 180 days to grow cotton, entire crops were often lost to early frost.
The most interesting stories were about the hard lives the slaves endured with long work hours and food rations. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be hungry and work in the fields picking cotton. Having picked tobacco as a teen in South Ga (on a tobacco picker), that work was hard, but this would have been a whole different ballgame. Even worse, the slaves’ children worked also.
We saw a document where slaves were listed the
for tax purposes. It listed a last name, wife, plus the number of children. It’s so hard to comprehend that there was ever a inhumane time when a person would own another person.
Cheekwood Mansion & Botanical Garden-our final destination. This place was spectacular and I just wish we could have spent more time there but, the day slipped away from us. I cant even describe how beautiful it was.
Since it was fall, there were pumpkins of different colors tucked away in the massive flower beds. Paved walkways flowed through manicured hills of blooming flowers.
Pumpkins were used to build small houses for children to explore.
A grand train set meandered through a beautiful garden complete with tunnels, bridges, houses, and water features.
A fall scarecrow display was made by numerous organizations in the area. Each scarecrow was uniquely made.
The mansion appeared more modern than the others we toured.
It housed many gorgeous paintings and had an amazing staircase.
We didn’t have a chance to see the large troll sculptures, but
Doug was visited by a big green grasshopper.
We agreed we would like to return and visit during different seasons for the beautiful flowers and seasonal events.
So, kick up your heels to some great country music when you are in Nashville, Tennessee. But, don't forget to explore these historic gems that will help remind you of the lifestyle endured by our ancestors. Visiting these historic sites will make you grateful for your freedom and basic necessities (including food and clothing). Share this history with your children. Don't let our American history be forgotten!
What are some of your favorite sites to see in Nashville, Tennessee?
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