HELP SUPPORT POLK PRESIDENTIAL HALL

Since 1929, the James K. Polk Ancestral Home has been the main historic site for the 11th President of the United States, and has educated the public about the life and times of one of America’s most successful Presidents. The James K. Polk Home’s board and staff for many years have identified site expansion (Polk is called our “Expansionist President” for adding about one-third of our country to the map) as a key component to the continued growth and prosperity of the Polk Memorial Association and its mission to collect, preserve, and interpret the life and times of James K. Polk. The Association is pleased to announce that they have recently acquired a ca.1882 church building that will soon be transformed into Polk Presidential Hall, a first-class exhibition hall and meeting space.

The building was originally erected by Archibald Sinclair in 1882 as Christian Church. The property was later conveyed to the Tennessee Orphan Home, used as an office for phosphate mining operations (mining became an important American venture as the California Gold Rush began during Polk’s last year as President), and turned into Columbia Business College, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. James Stoltz. The James K. Polk Memorial Association purchased the property from the Stoltz family in January, 2006.

Currently, the Polk Home is beholden to the generosity of surrounding private properties to accommodate such public programs as Polk’s America Lecture Series and the Polk Academy Children’s Summer Camp. With the purchase and restoration of Polk Presidential Hall, the Polk Home hopes to create public meeting space that will accommodate these and other programs, as well as house exhibition space that will allow the display of artifacts to interpret Polk’s life and times. Changing exhibitions will include such topics as Polk and slavery, the importance of the First Lady, and general exhibits on the presidency. Polk Presidential Hall may also accommodate traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institute (President Polk personally chose the site and laid the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Institute during his tenure in the White House).

Public support is needed to sensitively convert this historic facility into a first-class exhibition and meeting space. Your contribution will leave a lasting legacy by preserving an historic site and providing educational and cultural opportunities for generations to come. Please help us preserve our past and secure our future by placing a stamp on the enclosed envelope (postage stamps were first issued during Polk’s presidency) and contributing to the Polk Presidential Hall Campaign.