Columbia, TN Summary

This quaint town of 32,043 residents sits right in the heart of Tennessee’s Antebellum Trail, 45 miles south of Nashville, off Hwy 31. Columbia was the ancestral home of the 11th president of the United States, James K. Polk.

Settled on the former hunting grounds of the Cherokee and Chickasaw peoples in 1812, Columbia grew around the Duck River and developed into a major mule-trading center.

The town boasts wonderful antebellum architecture and remains one of the state’s wealthiest cities. Visitors can either embark on a self-guided tour or book one through the Maury County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Either way, Columbia’s magnificent array of antebellum estates and homes is, for most visitors, its main attraction.

Columbia’s Court House Square remains the dominant feature of the town, with many of its buildings listed on the Historic Register.

There is also the James K. Polk home on West Street, which is Columbia’s most visited property.

Built in 1816 by the father of the future president, it has many of the original furnishings on show. The Gothic mansion, the Athenaeum, built for the nephew of James Polk, later became a ladies’ academy.

Another link to the Polk family is St John’s Episcopal Church — built in 1839, it served as a plantation church.

There are several interesting events in Columbia, including the Spring Garden Plantation Pilgrimage in April. Mule Day, held on the first weekend of April, features a gathering of mules and fiddlers, and a liar’s contest is one of its major highlights.

Columbia is serviced by bus. Nearby Nashville is serviced by an international airport, as well as trains and buses.