The Hermitage Adds The Horse Race: Gentlemen of the Turf To Expand Its Visitor Programming

The interactive guest experience will showcase the role of horseracing in the 19th century.

HERMITAGE, Tenn. (July 1, 2019) – The seventh president’s home will build on its previous interactive program, The Duel – Art of the Southern Gentleman, with a new presentation that will demonstrate how horseracing shaped Andrew Jackson’s life.

The Horse Race: Gentlemen of the Turf will detail Jackson’s passions for horseracing and gambling and their impact on his place in society. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in The Horse Race by placing bets on an infamous race that defined Jackson’s reputation as a horseman. The aim of this interactive guest experience is to focus less on Jackson’s presidency and legacy and more on Jackson as a man. By placing bets during The Horse Race and learning about Jackson’s passion for social affairs, guests will be encouraged to connect with Jackson and his story.

This featured program begins Thursday, July 4, and guests will be able to observe and participate every half hour, Thursdays to Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Horse Race is free with paid admission.

“With our first installment, The Duel, drawing so much intrigue, adding The Horse Race was a natural progression in our journey to explore Andrew Jackson’s life and times,” said Howard J. Kittell, president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation. “Horseracing was a vital activity for gentlemen of the time, and Jackson’s enthusiasm for the sport was nearly unparalleled. By stripping away his military and presidential legacies, we can confront his personal passions and get deeper in finding out why he is such a powerful figure in our nation’s history. We hope to excite, provide answers and spur curiosities.”

The Duel remains active and runs on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays to Sundays. For more information on The Horse Race and Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, visit https://thehermitage.com/experience-the-horserace-gentleman-of-the-turf-now/.

What: The Horse Race

When: Starting Thursday, July 4
Thursday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage, TN 37076

Cost: Free with admission

 

About The Hermitage

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President is one of the largest, most well-preserved and most visited presidential homes in the United States. Opened to the public in 1889, The Hermitage is one of America’s first presidential museums. Today, The Hermitage is a 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark with more than 20 historic buildings, including Jackson’s mansion and tomb, restored slave cabins, a church, and gardens. In recent years, new interpretive initiatives and educational programs such as the history of slavery have enhanced the experience of nearly 230,000 annual visitors. For more information, visit www.thehermitage.com.

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Media Contact:
Ann Dee Jones
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President
615) 889-2941, ext. 223
ajones@thehermitage.com