The Dining Room
Rachel Jackson’s Blessing was: “Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech Thee, this provision for our good and us to Thy service for Christ’s sake, Amen.”
The dining room contains the original sideboard, table, some of the chairs, side table, pier table, sugar chest, andirons, and some of the silver and glass. The drapery fabric is an exact reproduction of an old brocatel pattern, by Scalamandre Silks; the curtains are of the type originally used; the carpet is one of the period. The floor is the only one in the mansion that has had to be replaced; a piece of the original flooring is in the Museum.
Adjoining the dining room is the pantry and farther to the rear the storeroom. A passageway leads directly from the dining room to the porch connecting with the kitchen.
All articles in the dining room are originals unless otherwise specified.
1. The “Old Hickory” or January 8 mantel, made of bits of hickory bark worked on only on the 8th of January of successive years, by one of Jackson’s soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans. Presented to General Jackson January 8, 1839 and placed in the dining room by General Jackson, January 8, 1840. 2. Pair of French vases, on the mantel. 3. The original dining table, at which several Presidents have dined: James Monroe, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Presidents Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William H. Taft, General Sam Houston, and the Marquis de Lafayette were also among the distinguished guests who have been entertained at the Hermitage. 4. Silver tray given to Jackson by Sam Houston. Presented to the Association by Mrs. Alice Watkins Shields. The large coffee pot with the initials A. J., once owned by Jackson, was returned by its recent owner, Mrs. John MacVeagh, Santa Barbara, Calif.; the three other pieces are Hermitage originals. 5. Candelabra with “wind glasses.” 6. Epergne. 7. Silver wine cart. Mate in Museum. 8. Two of the Decatur silver vegetable dishes. 9. Silver egg and toast rack. Presented by Mr. and Mrs. T. Graham Hall in memory of his mother, Mrs. Jennie McIver Hall, to whose family these were given by the Jacksons. 10. Cruet set. 11. Silver covered dishes, part of the silver pieces purchased by Jackson from the widow of Commodore Decatur. The silver originally included sixteen round and oval dishes, which were used constantly for years at the Hermitage. 12. Silver candelabrum, one of a pair used at the White House, given by Miss Mary R. Wilcox. 13. Additional pieces of the Decatur silver. 14. Bohemian wine decanters and silver holders. 15. Silver wine cooler. 16. Portrait of John Donelson, one of the Tennessee pioneers, brother of Rachel Jackson. 17. Portrait of the adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr. by Earl. 18. Portrait of Sarah York Jackson (wife of Andrew Jackson, Jr.). The dress in which she is pictured is in the Museum. 19. Portrait of Mrs. John Donelson (Mary Purnell). 20. Portrait of Rachel Jackson, wife of Andrew Jackson. 21. Portrait of Andrew Jackson, about 1820. 22. Oil painting of Christopher Columbus (over the mantel). Presented to Jackson by S. D. Bradford of West Roxbury, Mass 23. Portrait of General Coffee. 24. Portrait of Mary Donelson Coffee, wife of General Coffee, daughter of John Donelson and niece of Rachel Jackson. These portraits were presented by Hon. Alexander Donelson Coffee, son of General and Mrs. Coffee.