President James K. Polk Home awarded grant from the Tennessee State Museum
The President James K. Polk Home & Museum is a recipient of a $28,000 grant for Capital Maintenance and Improvement from the State of Tennessee as administered through the Tennessee State Museum.
The grant award will be used for renovations to the Polk Home’s historic detached kitchen, according to a press release from Visit Columbia tourism bureau.
Work will include fixing an adjoining door that is rotting, removing the plaster, and replacing the original windows. Additionally, the Polk Home will install period-accurate shelving.
The Tennessee General Assembly made available $5 million in funding from the 2023-2024 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements.”
It was a highly competitive process. In total, the Tennessee State Museum received 170 applications, totaling $12.5M in funding requests for the $5M appropriation. The Museum made full or partial awards to 108 museums across the state, representing 58 counties.
“The Tennessee State Museum serves the State of Tennessee through history, art, and culture,” said Ashley Howell, Tennessee State Museum Executive Director. “There is incredible work being done throughout the state by our strong network of Tennessee museums and historic homes. This grant is an extension of how we can further support their efforts and the preservation of local and state history. We thank the Tennessee General Assembly for their support for Tennessee Museums."
The Capital Improvement and Maintenance grant had a minimum request amount of $5,000 and a maximum request amount of $100,000. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2024.
“Over the past few years, we have been utilizing the kitchen more frequently for programming,” said Rachel Helvering, the Polk Home’s Executive Director. “These renovations will help us create a more accurate experience for visitors, and complement the kitchen garden that opened in 2021.”
The President James K. Polk Home & Museum preserves the legacy of the nation’s 11th President. Guided tours of the Polk Ancestral Home on W. 7th Street are available year-round, Monday through Sunday. Visit www.jameskpolk.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: President James K. Polk Home awarded grant from the Tennessee State Museum
