The Andrew Jackson Foundation has announced plans for major improvements across the 1,120-acre historic site which includes a new 70,000 SF Visitor and Education Center, expanded interpretation, restored historic spaces, new visitor amenities, and a reimagined experience for the more than 170,000 people who visit The Hermitage each year. The initial $6 million project was made possible through a state appropriation specifically designated for capital improvements at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. The site is located at 4580 Rachels Ln.
Shown for context only.
The concept by renowned architect Perkins&Will places the historic landscape at the heart of the visitor experience. The proposed Visitor and Education Center will follow the natural contours of the property, with much of the building located below grade. A new tree-lined approach and re-oriented walking paths will preserve important views while creating a stronger connection between visitors and the historic landscape.
The goal: bring people into the story before they ever reach the mansion and once on the property transport them into history restoring views as it was when it was Jackson’s home.
“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,” saidJason Zajac, president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation. “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 will replace the existing facility, which opened in 1989 and can no longer accommodate the needs of the site. The Hermitage now cares for approximately 800,000 objects, but space limitations mean only a fraction can be displayed. The overall transformation is estimated to cost $132 million and would be raised by primarily private donations as well as some public support and grants.
Construction planning is already underway with the new Visitor Comfort Facility and outdoor amphitheater also designed by Perkins&Will. The climate-controlled facility will include seating, snacks, new restrooms, and staff support space, giving visitors a place to rest and recharge during their visit. Like the vision for the Visitor and Education Center, the Visitor Comfort Center is embedded into the land, authentically preserving views from the mansion.
Perkins&Will was selected to lead architectural design for the new facilities and visitor experience after a competitive process that began with an RFQ issued in January. Six architectural firms responded, with three finalists ultimately presenting five concepts to a design committee. The vision was unanimously approved by the Andrew Jackson Foundation Board of Trustees on Monday, September 21st.
To optimize the new 70,000-square-foot Visitor and Education Center, The Hermitage also began working with Gallagher & Associates on the museum and interpretive experience before selecting the building design. The Foundation will share additional information on its timeline and future exhibits as the process progresses.
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