Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Greeneville, Tennessee

April 6, 2009

I had 6-8 hours to kill before I got on the flight back home via Dallas. Since I was already in the Knoxville vicinity, I decided to take my rental car and drive up to Greeneville to visit the home of the 17th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson. Halfway there, however, I saw a sign to visit Cumberland Gap and I was torn. I would have really liked to have gone there as well but....I'd already planned to go to Greeneville, so on I continued. I am glad I did.

Most historic sites don't have much to them. A building or two, maybe some additional land thrown in with a sign telling you might have happened here or there. Given that no one knew the place was going to be a Historic Site at the time, I don't blame the people who lived there at the time for re-using whatever materials they may have found there to make their own lives better. However, it does take away for the historicalness of the site today.

I can honestly say the Andrew Johnson Historic Site is NOT one of those places. It has been wonderfully preserved and presented. It consists of 3 buildings and a cemetery. The visitors center houses Johnson's original tailor shop, where he worked before and during his ascent into the world of politics. According the film presented at the Center, Johnson was very honest, blunt, and kind of crude, and did not always endear himself to others. He married and had 5 children; his wife became ill and was an invalid for the remainder of her life after her youngest was born. All 3 of his sons died without any children, so the family is carried on through the children of one of his daughters.

I toured all of the buildings and the cemetery. The Johnson family home, where he, his wife, and children lived during and after the Civil War, is wonderfully preserved. The National Park Ranger gave a wonderful 1 and 1/2 hour tour, and told my group several stories of his family. Which I wish I remembered now, but I don't.

If you are ever in the vicinity, I recommend you visit this site.

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