The Athenaeum

The Athenaeum The Athenaeum is all that remains of the famous Athenaeum School for Girls founded in 1852. The home is open for tours and available for rentals. Rev.

Construction of the Athenaeum began in 1832. Samuel Polk Walker, a nephew of President Polk, contracted Nathan Vaught, Maury County's "Master Builder" to build this home for him. Walker, however, never lived in the home. The first residents would be the family of Reverend Franklin Gillette Smith. Smith came to Columbia, Tennessee to take charge of the Columbia Female Institute, a girls' school. Sm

ith would continue to work at the Institute until 1851. At which time he started his own school, the Athenaeum. What is known as the Athenaeum today is all that remains of this once-famous girls' school. Today's Athenaeum was the rectory of the school and the home of the Smith family. The home remained in the Smith family until the 1970s when it was donated to the Maury County APTA to be operated as a historic site/museum. Today the Athenaeum is open to the public for tours by appointment only. Tours are $10. The home is also available for rentals, such as weddings, birthday celebrations, or showers. For more information contact the Athenaeum office at (931) 381-4822.

11/11/2025

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

*May we all work for peace in everything we do...🙏🌺☮️
Botanical illustration of red poppy by Mary Delany in 1776.

The Athenaeum wants to express our heartfelt thanks to those who served especially to our very own Gardner, Jeff Mingledorff, Marine and to Board members Lisa Previti and Eric Previti son, Jeremy Gifford, Chief Petty Officer E7,who is currently serving our nation in the Navy. Our hearts and prayers to out to these men and women who are willing to do what most of us aren't. God speed

10/26/2025

Wow, Columbia! Thank you to everyone that came out on this beautiful October evening and made the Rose Hill Cemetery Tour a success! Special thank you to the couple that stopped and asked how could they get involved with our theater group! That made our evening. We're all just a group of volunteers that have other jobs but just love history. If you enjoyed tonight then become a member of the APTA ( Association for the Preservation of TN Antiquities) headquartered here in Maury County at the Athenaeum Rectory. Mark your calendars for our next big event on Dec 5-6 for the Christmas Tour of Historic Homes!

Maury County APTA (Atheneum) Board President Kayla Keeton Southern presented Rene Lance of Experience Maury County TN wi...
10/24/2025

Maury County APTA (Atheneum) Board President Kayla Keeton Southern presented Rene Lance of Experience Maury County TN with bags of Halloween candy donated by the Athenaeum’s board. These will be handed out to children during the annual “Haunting in the District” on Halloween night.

The Athenaeum was in full Mourning regalia tonight! We want to thank everyone that came out tonight to make this event a...
09/28/2025

The Athenaeum was in full Mourning regalia tonight! We want to thank everyone that came out tonight to make this event a success!

We’re getting ready for the Candlelight Tour of the Athenaeum Come and be a part of this unique tour held only once a ye...
09/22/2025

We’re getting ready for the Candlelight Tour of the Athenaeum

Come and be a part of this unique tour held only once a year at The Athenaeum!

Madame President Kayla Southern giving our annual operations report as part of our meeting and Maury County Mayor, Sheil...
06/22/2025

Madame President Kayla Southern giving our annual operations report as part of our meeting and Maury County Mayor, Sheila Butt, signed a Declaration for making today, June 22 as " Athenaeum Rectory Day".

06/22/2025

So Mother Nature attempted to shut my mouth since I made fun of her trying to bake us to death with our recent heat wave so she sent the rain! But the breeze and the rain has cooled us off nicely, so thank you Mother Nature! Today's Guest Speaker is our very own Adam Southern. Adam has been past President of the APTA and is now our corresponding secretary

06/22/2025

During our " Free Day in May" Event, Mother Nature tried to blow us off of the porch with a thunderstorm. Today she's trying to cook us with the heat but don't let her win! Please join us this afternoon from 2-4 for our Annual Membership Meeting. Light refreshments served

06/17/2025

Just a friendly reminder that there will be the Annual Membership Meeting on Sun, 6/22 at the Athenaeum Rectory from 2-4. Everyone is invited. If you love the Athenaeum as much as we do, come and help support Columbia's Hidden Gem! Bring a friend. Light refreshments provided

Address

808 Athenaeum Street
Columbia, TN
38401

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Athenaeum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Athenaeum:

Share