We decided "let's go knock President Andrew Johnson off our list" and ended up at one of my now favorite places!
On the way, we ended up stopping at a couple of cemeteries for genealogy research for a client. Some of the cemeteries were well off the beaten path, so we ended up not finding a few of them. We made it to Greenville to see President Johnson's burial place. President Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States. He came into office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. This left him leading a nation that needed rebuilt during one of the most troubling times in our country's history. President Johnson became the first president to be impeached. He ended up being acquitted by one vote. He died in 1875 and was buried in Greenville, TN.
Johnson's homestead is also in Greenville, but we really didn't have an interest in visiting. We laughed about the shady Andrew Johnson Inn that was in town. With those being the only attractions in the area, we were quickly finished but not yet ready to head home. After some quick research, we decided to drive into nearby Asheville, NC to go to the Biltmore.
The Biltmore is an 8000 acre estate built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895. Although this home is now open to tourists, it is still a privately owned house, and the largest one in the United States. The history of the house and property are full of historic details that explain why the house has become such an icon. The rooms are filled with possessions that the Vanderbilt family collected during their world wide travels. There is also an amazing library with a secret passage to the guest rooms so guests would not have to walk around the house in their pajamas if they wanted a book in the middle of the night. The house even has its own gymnasium and swimming pool inside. There are also horse stables that have been turned into a gift shop and chocolate shop.
Upon arrival to the front of the house, there is a large water fountain out front. The grounds have many gardens and greenhouses for visitors to explore as well. We didn't stay outside much because it was a very hot day! The house itself did not have air conditioning. When driving away from the estate, we stopped at Biltmore Village. There were several wine tasting areas and gift shops here. The house can be seen in several movies, used most in 'Richie Rich'. I fell in love with the history and display of pieces throughout this house. I know I will definitely be back here some day!
Left- view from one of the balconies, Right- inside one of the greenhouses
Mom was shocked that we basically drove to Asheville and back in two days. We drove home through heavy thunderstorms while we were in the mountains. I think what made this trip so special was just the quality time spent together while exploring new places and knowing that our shared interests bring us even closer together.
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