Park Overview
The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site honors our 17th United States President, Andrew Johnson, who became president after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. It was established as a National Monument in 1942, and switched to a National Historic Site in 1963. The site includes three separate complexes: the visitor center, his homestead, and his grave site.
Getting There
The National Historic Site is located in Greeneville, Tennessee, which is only about 1.5 hours from Gatlinburg. This makes it a perfect addition on your trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. If you are coming from Gatlinburg you would take US-321 North. If coming from the North you would most likely take I-81 South, though there are a few main roads you could take depending where you are coming from.
Fees & Cancellation Stamp
It is free to enter any of the buildings and land associated with Andrew Johnson NHS. You can find the cancellation stamp in the main visitor center.
If you wish to tour the main homestead, it is free but requires a ticket, which is available at the main visitor center.
Time Required
I would plan to spend 2-3 hours at the historic site. In addition to the park film and original artifacts to see, there is a lot of information to absorb in all the different buildings. There is some walking required between buildings, but it is minimal. Also, the homestead tour will take between 45-60 minutes. If you plan to take the tour that will definitely at some time to your visit. The cemetery is about 1 mile away. It’s an easy walk through town, but there is also parking on site if you wish to drive.
If you are driving through and do not have 2-3 hours, do not fret! You can get a good sense of the park in an hour or so. It would still be worth the visit!
Things to do
Here is a summary of what’s available at Andrew Johnson NHS. View the NPS page for exact details.
Visitor Center Complex
There are three buildings that make up the complex. The actual visitor center, his early home, and his tailor shop. The home and tailor shop are right next to each other, and the visitor center is adjacent to the early home.
In the visitor center be sure to check out the park film, and vote for his acquittal or impeachment. In his early home, there are original artifacts related to his presidency, impeachment, and national/international policy. You can look inside his tailor shop but I do not believe there are any artifacts or signs to read.
Homestead
Andrew Johnson’s main homestead is about a quarter of a mile away from the visitor center complex. It is available for tours and specific hours of the day (it varies by season, check the NPS website). The tour is free but requires a ticket that can be found at the visitor center.
Andrew Johnson National Cemetery
The cemetery is approximately 1 mile away. You are free to walk from the visitor center; however, there is parking on site. In addition to Andrew Johnson’s grave, you can also find some of his other family members.
There are special ceremonies for Memorial Day, Wreaths Across America, and the presidential birthday wreath-laying.
Know before you go
There is nothing crazy you need to know before visiting this site. I needed to get on the road so I didn’t walk around much or eat at any of the restaurants, but the town is adorable. I recommend doing both if you have the time.
Last updated: March 22, 2023
Leave a Reply