Located across from the Tennessee State Capitol, The Hermitage Hotel played a central role in the final push to ratify the 19th Amendment in August 1920. As Tennessee prepared to become the 36th and final state needed to secure women’s right to vote, suffragists established their headquarters at the hotel, while legislators, journalists, lobbyists and activists filled its halls. More Eat & Drink News
Known at the time as “The Third House,” the hotel became the setting for the dramatic “War of the Roses.” Supporters of women’s suffrage wore yellow roses, while opponents wore red, as both sides worked to influence lawmakers and debate strategy. Many of those conversations took place over afternoon tea, with legend suggesting some teapots occasionally held bourbon instead, adding a distinctly Tennessee element to the historic campaign.
Today, The Hermitage Hotel remains a National Historic Landmark, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the spaces where those pivotal events unfolded. Each August, the hotel honors that legacy with its annual Yellow Rose Tea, celebrating the women whose courage helped change the course of American history.
The special afternoon tea service will be offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout August. Priced at $95 for adults and $50 for children under 10, the experience includes a choice of Champagne, a Whiskey in a Teacup cocktail or Tea Punch, along with tea sandwiches, tarts, scones, desserts and other selections.
Guests will also enjoy complimentary valet parking and live piano music inspired by the 1920s. Each attendee will receive a commemorative keepsake menu and a yellow rose upon departure in recognition of the suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote. Make a reservation here.
The experience also reflects the hotel’s continued commitment to recognizing trailblazing women. The Hermitage Hotel is led by Dee Patel, the first female managing director in the property’s 116-year history. Patel began her hospitality career in housekeeping before rising to lead one of the country’s most celebrated luxury hotels, overseeing the property’s transformation while preserving the history that earned it National Historic Landmark status.
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