Attractive Maury County
— Polk’s Place —
The area’s most famous attraction is the James K. Polk Ancestral Home and Polk Presidential Hall in Columbia. James K. Polk lived and practiced law in Columbia before moving through the political ranks to become the 11th president of the United States.
Besides the White House, the house is the only one of Polk’s homes left. The Polk Presidential Hall features changing exhibits of historical significance, some from the Smithsonian Institute.
Another favorite in Maury County is Rippavilla Plantation, as it played an active role during the Civil War for both the Confederate and Union armies. It was where General John Bell Hood breakfasted with his generals the day of the Battle of Franklin. Don’t miss a plantation dinner served at this historic venue, always a tour favorite.
Two more tour favorites in Columbia are the Athenaeum Rectory and Historic Elm Springs. Built in 1835, the Athenaeum is a Moorish-Gothic structure that was once the rectory of a 19th-century girls’ school. A Southern-style lunch on the veranda served by hostesses in period dress is a treat.
Historic Elm Springs, a Greek Revival-style home, is the headquarters for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Along with tours of the home, Elm Springs has a gift shop that Civil War buffs love.
Becky Leifheit
Group Tour Coordinator
Maury County Convention and Visitors Bureau
bleifheit@maurycounty-tn.gov
www.antebellum.com
931-381-7176
