The legacy of slavery is not a footnote — it is foundational to understanding The Hermitage. Between 1788 and 1865, Andrew Jackson and his family enslaved more than 325 individuals. The enslaved community constructed buildings, cultivated crops, cared for the Jackson household, prepared meals, and so much more. Their labor shaped The Hermitage in lasting ways. At The Hermitage, it is our responsibility to tell their stories with honesty and care, to preserve the quarters where they lived and wor