Old Hickory Furniture: An American Tradition

One of the most beloved furniture styles in the United States today, Old Hickory furniture can be traced back to the early 1800s, when pioneers learned to craft furniture from the hickory saplings that grew in abundance in the Appalachian Mountains.

It was one of these pioneers, a North Carolinian by the name of Billy Richardson, who moved to Martinsville, Indiana where he made hickory chairs to be sold in the town square on Saturdays.

The popularity of his chairs soon grew rapidly and in 1892, Richardson opened his company, Old Hickory Furniture. It was named in honor of one of his early customers, President Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson.

Old Hickory Game Tables

The company’s reputation for fine craftsmanship and uncompromising quality soon spread throughout the country. Old Hickory was contracted to furnish nearly all of the nation’s national park lodges, including the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone. Today, some of the original old hickory chairs, old hickory rockers and old hickory dining furniture can still be found at the lodge, dating back to 1906.

In fact, the furniture at the inns was so popular that Old Hickory Furniture had catalogs available at the lodge front desk so guests could order furnishings for their homes. The company was one of the first businesses to ship furniture nationwide as it tried to keep up with increasing demand.

Today, Old Hickory bridges the past and the present with an array of furnishings that complement any style of home design. In addition to its popular line of lodge furniture, the company produces old hickory bedroom furniture, old hickory office furniture and old hickory bedroom furniture in styles ranging from rustic twig and Mission to Appalachian and Adirondack.

Old Hickory furniture not only comes in a variety of styles, but the selection is large too. Homeowners can purchase old hickory beds, nightstands, armoires, entertainment centers, lighting and even old hickory bowed back settees, bar stools and kitchen islands.

No matter what you choose, you’ll find that the attention to detail is amazing, from the use of complex mortise and tenon joints to meticulously woven seats and seat backs. Each piece of Old Hickory furniture is handcrafted and hand finished.