Andrew Johnson: The Tailor Shop

While Andrew Johnson and his brother, William, were still young, their widowed mother apprenticed them to a tailor in Raleigh, N.C. Both fled the area before their contracts were fulfilled at age 21, however, and Andrew eventually ended up in Greeneville, Tenn. — a town that just happened to need a tailor.

Johnson settled in Greeneville, and his shop still exists inside the visitors’ center at the Johnson historic site. The family maintained the tailor shop until 1921 and then deeded it to the state of Tennessee. The National Park Service took over the property in 1941.

    

The visitors’ center is also home to the presidential museum, which contains memorabilia like the Bible that Johnson used while proclaiming the presidential oath.