President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library facts for kids

The President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library is a special place in Greeneville, Tennessee, located on the campus of Tusculum University. It's a museum and library dedicated to Andrew Johnson, who was the 17th President of the United States. Presidential libraries and museums like this one help us learn about a president's life, their time in office, and the history of their era.

A Look Back: The Museum's History

The building that now houses the museum has a long and interesting history. Back in 1840, Tusculum University (then called Tusculum College) was growing. There were about 70 students, and the college needed more space.

To help with this, several people, including Andrew Johnson himself, gave money to build a new college building. They raised over $4,200, which was a lot of money back then! This new building opened in October 1841. It had classrooms, a chapel, offices, and a library for students to use.

The building was used for classes until 1887. Over the years, as more buildings were added to the campus, this old building, known as Old College, was used for different things. It was a place for teachers to live, more classrooms, and even a dorm where students slept.

In 1993, Old College was carefully restored to look like it did when it was first built. It was then renovated to become the Andrew Johnson Museum and Library. Today, it holds many items related to Andrew Johnson and helps people learn about his life and legacy.

Visiting the Museum Today

The President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library is open to visitors from Monday to Friday, usually from 9 AM to 5 PM. You can also arrange a visit by appointment if those times don't work for you. It's a great place to explore and learn more about American history!