Tennessee

Tennessee State Building

Location	The Trail
Construction
Construction Cost	$18,000 ($542,867 in 2021)
Architecture
Dimensions	104' x 61'

Tennessee's building on the The Trail was a replica of 'The Hermitage,' the historic home of General Andrew Jackson, who resided near Nashville. The style of architecture of the building was the old, dignified colonial, and of ample proportions.

Before the Fair

The Tennessee State building originated with the secretary of the commission, who began fund-raising for the pavilion. The entire expense of constructing the building and maintaining it was defrayed by voluntary contributions. It was Tennessee's greatest single advertisement at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

All of the furnishings are antique, including collections from Jackson's home and from the mansions of Tennessee's two other presidents, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson. In the main hallway will be seen a copy of the monument erected in memory of explorer Lewis, and an old anvil on which it is said the nails were beaten to make the coffin in which he was buried.

Description

The style of architecture of the building is the old, dignified colonial, and of ample proportions. On the east side of the hall one passes through a cross hallway and views a room that is a copy of the bed-chamber of General Jackson—the room in which he died, January 5, 1845, at the age of 78. Many Jacksonian relics are exhibited in the room.