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.
