Days Out NI
Museum Carrickfergus

Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Museum

A free 1750s thatched cottage and the wartime story of the US Rangers, just north of Carrickfergus.

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Check hoursWednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm; check b…
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45 minutesHow long
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Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Museum — A free 1750s thatched cottage and the wartime story of the US Rangers, just north of Carrickfergus.

  • Getting in: Free entry, no ticket required for the standard visit.
  • Opening: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm; check before you go for seasonal changes.
  • Family: Yes, low fitness required and suitable for all ages.
  • Tours: Self-guided or a guided tour of around 45 minutes; out-of-hours tours by advance booking.
  • Food: No café; a picnic area is available on site.
  • Parking: Free on-site parking; coach parking by arrangement.
Plan your visit

A presidential homestead and a wartime first

Inside the cottage you see how an 18th-century Ulster farming family lived, down to the open hearth, the iron pots and the patchwork quilts. The Andrew Jackson exhibition links this humble home to the White House, marking the family who emigrated in 1765, two years before the future president was born. The adjoining US Rangers Museum honours the battalion activated in Carrickfergus in 1942, with original uniforms, photographs and documents from their training and wartime service. It is a compact site, so a single visit covers both.

Free entry Guided tour (~45 min) 1750s thatched cottage US Rangers WWII museum Family-friendly Free parking
Good to know before you go:

As a small heritage site, openings and guided slots can shift around holidays and special days, and out-of-hours tours can be booked ahead. Check current hours before you travel and look out for commemorative dates tied to the US Rangers.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free entry, no ticket required for the standard visit
Opening
Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm; check before you go for seasonal changes
Tours
Self-guided or a guided tour of around 45 minutes; out-of-hours tours by advance booking
Age limits
None; suitable for all ages
Food
No café; a picnic area is available on site
Family-friendly
Yes, low fitness required and suitable for all ages
Parking
Free on-site parking; coach parking by arrangement
Accessibility
Accessible parking and toilets, indoor attraction, guide dogs welcome
How long to allow
45 minutes to an hour
Address
2 Boneybefore, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 7EG
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
Free entry, no ticket required for the standard visit
What are the opening times?
Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm; check before you go for seasonal changes
Is it good for kids?
Yes, low fitness required and suitable for all ages
Are there guided tours?
Self-guided or a guided tour of around 45 minutes; out-of-hours tours by advance booking
Is there parking?
Free on-site parking; coach parking by arrangement
Getting there

Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Museum is at 2 Boneybefore, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 7EG. Free on-site parking; coach parking by arrangement. Tap below for directions.

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The story

About the Andrew Jackson Cottage

The cottage is a thatched farmhouse built in the 1750s at Boneybefore, just north of Carrickfergus. It stands near the ancestral home of Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, whose parents emigrated from this area to America in 1765, two years before his birth in 1767. The restored interior keeps period details including an open fireplace with a daub-and-wattle canopy and a hanging crane.

The site also holds the US Rangers Museum. The US Rangers, an elite American army unit, were first activated in Carrickfergus in 1942 during the Second World War, and the museum chronicles their training and combat through uniforms, photographs and documents. The centre is run as a free attraction by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.