Today we woke up in Nashville, checked out of our hotel, loaded up the car, and headed to Andrew Jackson's Mansion, The Hermitage. That's the name he gave his house. We learned that hermitage means recluse or hermit or some dwelling that is away. After being President he was ready for some peace and quiet. We learned that back then naming your house was the thing to do, because streets and roads weren't always clear so it was the only way for people to find you. We had a really great time and learned a lot of things about US history and our 7th president. (Dad you would have loved it).
It was even pretty cool to think about the man he was and the life he had lived and the campaigning he did to become president, all in the wake of the current campaign going on. And it also happens to be his birthday tomorrow! March 15th, Election Day!
He owned a plantation and many slaves. Here is a pic of one of his slaves in a cabin, and below is the exact same cabin and same furniture owned by that slave. It was sobering to learn about that and actually stand inside a real slave home. Something about it felt like sacred ground.
Then we headed to Birmingham, Alabama and learned about the civil rights movement. We learned that Birmingham was the most segregated city in the south and consequently was the center for much of the peaceful protesting and violence that went on during that time. We even got a personal tour from a homeless vet who was 6 years old at the time and witnessed the whole thing.
We ended the night with dinner in Montgomery at a hole-in-the-wall place with great southern BBQ. And then continued on the Florida and reached our beach destination. Looking forward to the three S's tomorrow: sand and sun and swimming. :)
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