He enlisted Nashville master builders William C. Hume and Joseph Reiff, who were working on rebuilding the Hermitage mansion after a fire, to undertake the construction.

Former president Martin Van Buren allegedly suggested Donelson rename it Tulip Grove during a visit in 1842.

On March 11, 1964, Jane Buntin deeded the mansion and 26.33 acres surrounding it to the Ladies' Hermitage Association (LHA), now known as the Andrew Jackson Foundation.

In return, the LHA agreed to pay Buntin, "her heirs and assigns, for a period of ninety-nine (99) years from and after March 1, 1964 one-third (1/3) of all gate receipts received by Grantee from visitors to Tulip Grove House located on said land, which payments are to be made on a monthly basis.

[7] Tulip Grove is representative of the antebellum Greek Revival style that was popular before the American Civil War.