Archive for the ‘Nashville’ Category

From Nashville, Tennessee to St. Louis, Missouri

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Monday: We left Nashville owing a huge debt to our tour guide Tom (and his parents) who fed us, put a roof over our heads, and showed us the Nashville ropes. Thanks, y’all.

Tuesday: This morning we dropped Hazel off at the cleaners groomers Beauty Parlor for the day while we checked out the house museums of St. Louis. First stop, the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion.

As usual, I neglected to get directions before hopping in the car. We got a little lost along the way, but stopped for guidance when we felt we were close.

(Close)

I walked into the Lemp Mansion Restaurant, thinking that maybe since they ran their operation out of an old house, they’d be in the know. Here’s how the conversation went–

LAIN: Hey! Do you know where the Chant-tee-yon Demumble House is?

WAITER: Dude, are you serious?

LAIN: I really don’t know how to pronounce it, I’m sorry.

WAITER: (eyeing me warily) It is literally next door.

LAIN: Reall–

WAITER: Literally. Next door.

The distance between the two houses was well before the stop sign.

So we found it. Review to follow.

Nashville, Tennessee — Travellers Rest

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Monday: We learned our lesson from the Clover Bottom Mansion and called ahead to Travellers Rest. The lady on the phone assured me that we could walk in and take the tour right away. Nice.

But when we got there, the same lady assured me that we would have to wait twenty or twenty-five minutes for the tour. Le sigh!

Luckily, we were able to walk around the grounds of Travellers Rest, where they have plenty of historic markers and restored outbuildings.

Some of the outbuildings had open doors with little exhibits inside. For example–

Travellers Rest is like the other house museums we’ve seen so far, in that originally the house was much, much smaller. They added on to the house several times over the years before they found what they wanted.

The weather was still kinda nasty, so we didn’t stay too long. We did, however, get to see little pumpkins before we left.

Topics Discussed – Those Little Pumpkins, Our Earlier Phone Conversation, Butter Churning, Highway Construction

Nashville, Tennessee — Clover Bottom Mansion

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Monday: We visited Clover Bottom Mansion because it looked cool, it was in our brochure of museums, admission was free, and the house was right near the Hermitage.

Turns out the Clover Bottom Mansion is not so much a museum as it is the offices of the Tennessee Historical Commission.

And turns out that admission is free because …it is the offices of the Tennessee Historical Commission.

The very nice and accommodating secretary led me on a very brief tour of the place, where I saw things like …the conference room and …the brochure storage room and …the elevator.

She was not feeling well, however, and it looked like she–not unlike the dog Hazel last night–was about to, um, regurgitate lunch.  I thanked her graciously and hurried outside.  They have a few outbuildings, some of which will be restored.

Someone else got the full tour earlier this year, so I’d look to them if you want the history of the place.

Topics discussed – Nausea, Not Being a House Museum, Brochure Storage.

Hermitage, Tennessee — The Hermitage

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Monday: The Hermitage is the big house museum to-do in Nashville.

Problem is, it costs $16 per person and you also need to carve out two hours of your time to see the place.

I’m sure the Hermitage is totally worth it.  I mean, if the brochure tells us anything, it’s that this is one classy place.

Hazel the dog was with us, looking forward to walking around the grounds.

But merely to explore the grounds with the dog (in the rain) would have set Susie back $16, while I was inside for two hours.  Gosh, we were looking for a house museum, not a really nice historic penitentiary that charged admission.  A soggy soggier dog wasn’t appealing at this point, either.

They do have a nice fleet of trucks with Andrew Jackson’s signature on the back.

I’m thinking about buying a fleet of trucks for the Wren’s Nest and putting Joel Chandler Harris’ signature on the back.  Consider it an investment.

In the end we said thanks but no thanks–the Hermitage may have been a little too rich for our blood.

Topics Discussed — Railroad Tracks In One’s Yard, The Song We Think Is Called “Rough and Ready Is Our Battle Call,” Whether Said Song Has to Do with Andrew Jackson.

Nashville, Tennessee — Belmont Mansion

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Sunday: We arrived at the Belmont Mansion at approximately 3:36, a mere six minutes after the last tour shoved off.

I was not allowed to join midway.

The dude who answered the door had already put away the cash box.  This created an impenetrable force field in front of the door, so I couldn’t have gone in even if I wanted.

I went like this at him: “Sigh!”

Our quick stop at the Sam Davis Home proved to be a critical mistake.  Luckily, the Belmont Mansion is open on Mondays.

In the meantime, we’re staying in Nashville with Tom, good guy and Wren’s Nest Facebook Fan.

We ate dinner at Tom’s parents’ house, nearby.  When Tom’s parents gave Hazel a Greenie, she swallowed it whole and vomited on what seemed like every carpet in the house.  Later, she vomited at Tom’s apartment.

Tomorrow will be better.

Topics Discussed — Rainy Nashville Weather, Presidential Debates, Gazebos, Curses on the Sam Davis Home