Existing comment:
A Symbol of Democracy and Slavery:
These log buildings tell a remarkable story unlike any others in the United States. From 1804 to 1821, as a two-story farmhouse and kitchen outbuilding, they housed future U.S. President Andrew Jackson and his family. Here Andrew Jackson lived out and became a symbol of the American Dream -- the idea that anyone can rise to great success. After Jackson moved to the brick mansion in 1821, he reconfigured his old log farmhouse into a one-story slave cabin. Until the Civil War, these buildings sheltered some of Jackson's slaves, a group of people for whom freedom remained a dream deferred. Today, these unassuming buildings stand as a symbolic reminder of the conflict between democracy and slavery that continues to haunt our understanding of American life and culture. As you explore them, you will learn about Andrew Jackson's life in these buildings, and you will also uncover the story of the many enslaved African Americans who lived and toiled here. |