A POPULAR tourist attraction which links a tiny Co Antrim townland to the US White House has reopened to the public following a £250,000 makeover.
The Andrew Jackson Cottage, which is named after the 7th President of the United States, is an Ulster-Scots farmhouse built in the 1750s in Boneybefore near Carrickfergus.
Jackson's parents lived before they left for a new life in America, but their original cottage was demolished in 1860 to make way for the railway.
Renovation works include replacing and repairing the traditional wooden beams, restoring the façade, new paving along the outside, damp repairs including installation of new heated flooring and the restoration of the traditional thatched roof.
A specialist tradesman had to be brought in to carry out the thatching.
Mid and East Antrim council mayor Maureen Morrow said they are "delighted with the difference these works have made to safeguard this must-see attraction".
"The Andrew Jackson Cottage has welcomed visitors to Mid and East Antrim since 1984 and even with the recent facelift, you still feel like you are stepping back in time when you visit this special cottage," she said.
"... This work will protect this invaluable attraction for generations to come and enjoy a real and authentic experience here in Mid and East Antrim.
"The Andrew Jackson Cottage is located just beside the US Rangers Museum which was renovated last year and has since featured on prime time TV shows."
The council has applied for the venue to be approved for civil marriages and partnerships.
