President James K. Polk Home and Museum

Historical place museum · Columbia

President James K. Polk Home and Museum

Historical place museum · Columbia

2

301 W 7th St, Columbia, TN 38401

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President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum 
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by Courtesy James K. Polk Home and Museum
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null
President James K. Polk Home and Museum by null

Highlights

Step into the almost-secret childhood home of President James K. Polk, where you'll find curated exhibits and guided tours that uncover fascinating history.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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301 W 7th St, Columbia, TN 38401 Get directions

jameskpolk.com
@polkhome

Information

Static Map

301 W 7th St, Columbia, TN 38401 Get directions

+1 931 505 8019
jameskpolk.com
@polkhome

Features

restroom
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@cntraveler

"What’s this place all about? This rather modest home is where the 11th president lived as a teenager and young man and is the only house still standing, besides the White House, where James K. Polk ever lived. Because Columbia is off the beaten path and Polk is not the best-known president, it feels a little like a secret, but once you get inside you see that it is well researched and curated. This is not a Podunk museum with handwritten displays taped to the walls. This is the real deal. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one? The home has furnishings that belonged to President Polk and his wife, Sarah, while they lived at the White House. Other pieces come from Polk Place, the home that the couple planned and built in Nashville following the end of Polk’s presidency in 1849. Sadly, Polk died of cholera just five months after leaving office and so had little opportunity to enjoy the home. Do they feature rotating exhibits? Yes, there are changing exhibitions in both the home and the adjacent building. Past exhibits have included a beautiful display of dresses worn by first ladies and another featured Audubon sketches from Polk's era. The curation links back to Polk, his work, and his time. The exhibits are varied enough that people will want to make repeat visits to the museum. What did you make of the crowd? Despite the fact that this museum has top-level artifacts for a presidential museum, it doesn't get crazy crowded like Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. Other museum-goers tend to be history buffs who are seeking out this information and location. The museum is kid-friendly, and during the school year you might share the space with a field trip. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? The tour includes docent-led tours of the Polk Home and then self-guided looks through the Sisters’ House, Polk Presidential Exhibit Hall, Garden, and Kitchen, all of which have their own museum exhibits. The Polk Home itself has a few steps (three or four) and a second level that is not always open to the public. There are not ramps or elevator access to these areas. All the other rooms and exhibition halls are wheelchair accessible. Any guided tours worth trying? The main house is only available by docent-led tour included in the tour price and is chock full of information. The website has a ton of educational materials and information for those who want to go more in-depth than what is provided onsite. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? Obligatory, for Polk fans anyway, but not a destination in and of itself. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? You'll need at least an hour, the length of the docent-led tour. But you should really plan to take the additional 30 minutes they give you to see the additional exhibits and halls and the exterior garden."

James K. Polk Home and Museum – Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler
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@cntraveler

"This rather modest home is where the 11th president lived as a teenager and young man, and is the only house still standing, besides the White House, where James K. Polk ever lived. Because Columbia is off the beaten path and Polk is not the best-known president, it feels a little like a secret. It's definitely not as trafficked as, say, Andrew Jackson's Hermitage. Once you get inside, though, you'll see that it is well researched and curated." - Margaret Littman

3 Best Day Trips from Nashville | Condé Nast Traveler
View Postcard for President James K. Polk Home and Museum

J Torres

Google
The museum is a beautifully preserved home and it has plenty of interesting information about president Polk and his wife. Polk’s life and his presidency made him one of the most influential presidents in the history of the country. The visit was the most enjoyable mainly because of the very knowledgeable guide, Olivia. She told the story of the house and Polk’s legacy in a very easy to understand manner. It was fascinating. If you’re in the area, you need to stop by and visit this museum.

HOLLIE BROUGHTON

Google
I was nervous about spending $14 a person and watching my husband's face ask me why did we waste the money on such a flop? Happily, I was right, and this was the best experience yet. The guide was not only knowledgeable, did his homework, even knew how many artifacts they had from the family, but was hilarious. This man will set you on fire for history. I had no idea how much the 11th President did for this country. Let alone that Tennessee had such rich history sitting in Columbia TN. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge to us. It was a pleasure.

Mark Barnes

Google
We had a awesome visit here. Our guide phyllis was awesome. We learned so much. You can't reserve tickets in advance but we were able to get in right away. You will learn alot about sarah polk who was super interesting and doesn't get talked about enough with the early first ladies. I would highly recommend.

Stacy Fissel

Google
Little known president that accomplished all of his campaign goals. Sadly, he died soon after leaving the White House. His wife sounds like a formidable woman, interesting dynamic for that era. Great tour and information.

Garry Thompson

Google
While I was visiting Columbia, I decided to take the tour of President James K. Polk’s Home. This is the only remaining home (other than the White House) that is associated with this often-overlooked president. I arrived at the visitors center next door to the home and was greeted by my tour guide Eli. I was the only guest on the tour, so I enjoyed the personal tour. Eli was quite knowledgeable of the Polk’s and the home, and I enjoyed chatting with him throughout the tour. The home was built in 1816 by President Polk’s father, Samuel. The future president would live in the house until 1824. During the tour pay attention to the off-center fireplace and the Polk Family Furniture throughout the house. After the tour be sure to walk through the adjacent kitchen and the gardens. The Polk Home is well worth the time and effort to tour an offer you an up close look at one of our hardest working Presidents.

Matthew Pettit

Google
The museum was more about slavery and Sarah Childress Polk (his wife). The only positive thing they had to say about James K. Polk was that he expanded the US territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Tour guide was accommodating and did a good job presenting the information and answering questions.

Wayne Maier

Google
Visited with a group and enjoyed the entire tour. The docent was super and she made the whole tour great with her vast knowledge. I definitely recommend this historical location. Worth your time to revisit history.

Tim Sutton

Google
Beautiful home of our 11th President James K. Polk. This is his only remaining residence other than The White House. His home where he lived after his presidency in downtown Nashville was torn down. Not sure why Nashville would tear down a presidential home! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the home, the history of the time, the President and his family. The tour included the home, the grounds and the kitchen. They also have a video about JKP and a small gift shop. It was not busy, but there was a steady flow of people. Highly recommend a visit to Columbia, TN and this historical hidden gem.

Olivia S.

Yelp
Visiting this James K Polk site is a must-do if you are a history nerd! There is plenty of free angle parking directly next to the home and a lot across the street. You start your visit at "Sister's House" (visitor center) which is around the corner on 7th street. Right now, for adults, for $14 you get a tour of the home and access to the gardens, kitchen (self-guided tour), museum room, and the exhibit in the Presidential Hall. This is totally worth the price!!! The tour alone is worth $14. There is a ~12 minute introductory visit offered in the visitor center, and they seem to just play it when enough people have congregated for a tour. The tours don't seem to be scheduled at particular times, so you'll have to be flexible when you arrive. You cannot purchase tickets in advance online. There is also a small reading-heavy exhibit room in the visitor center too, so plenty to occupy yourself. The home tour was awesome!! Our guide Cody was incredibly knowledgeable, and he was full of fun facts and energy. The tour lasted about 45 minutes, which is one of the longest presidential home tours I've been on, so definitely worth the price of admission! You can't take pictures inside too. Once the tour is over, you have access to the gardens and the self-guided tour of the kitchen. The Presidential Hall is located down the street on High St, and right now there is an art exhibit focused on slavery and civil rights leaders. Admission is currently included with the $14 ticket price, but I think that changes with the exhibit. The gardens are gorgeous! And don't forget to take a picture with the life-sized statues of James and Sarah Polk across 7th street! I would budget 2 hours to see everything. I highly recommend making this trip when you're in Nashville.

Sally O.

Yelp
What an amazing adventure. We had one of the best tour guides I have ever experienced. She was most knowledgeable and personable. When you leave the home, you have full knowledge of President Polk, his family and his impact on America. Worth the time.

Lily S.

Yelp
Gavin was the best tour guide! Truly a wealth of knowledge. Such a fantastic tour! Thank you!

Lisa E.

Yelp
Really experienced guide! Interesting to learn how important our 11th president was to our country!

Steve K.

Yelp
Friends and I visited the Polk home and museum mid-week in downtown Columbia. It is an A+ personal/escorted tour. Made extra special by visiting mid-week. Tour guide was Dan, and he began with a video in the Visitors Center followed by Museum room, outdoor kitchen, and Polk Presidential Hall with rotating exhibits and presidential artifacts. Can do the tour in 1 hour; we stayed two hours. Then walked down the street for late lunch at Puckett's BBQ. James K Polk's wife Sarah Childress was, in effect, his chief of staff and essential to his success. Polk won the presidency running as a Democrat with a platform that reads like a modern-day Republican (low tariffs to raise revenue but not protect industry). Oddly, he failed to carry his own state of Tennessee. Polk was a protégé of the 7th President Andrew Jackson. Polk won the Democrat nomination as a compromise candidate. He was previously Tennessee governor, congressional House of Representative, Speak of the House, and TN state senate. By the end of the tour, I don't understand why the 11th president isn't more widely followed and respected for his territorial expansion and executive branch accomplishments in just 4 years. Tips: Open Daily. Check hours. Nominal fee. Potentially difficult for the physically disabled. Street and Visitor Center parking lot, both free.

Dani C.

Yelp
James K. Polk was the 11th president of the United States (1845-1849). Polk's annexation of Texas led to the Mexican-American War, and the U.S. victory thereby led to the acquisition of large territories in the Southwest and along the Pacific coast, which led to the establishment of the Department of the Interior. The northern border of the United States was also established under Polk, as were the Naval Academy and the Smithsonian. Polk was not expected to run for president in 1844. Martin Van Buren wanted to be nominated for a 2nd term as president, but his stance against the annexation of Texas was unpopular with the Democratic Party. The delegates went through 9 ballots before compromising on Polk as their pick. In the general election, Polk ran against Whig candidate Henry Clay, who opposed the annexation of Texas. Both Clay and Polk ended up receiving 50% of the popular vote. However, Polk was able to get 170 out of 275 electoral votes. Once Polk became president, he negotiated with the British to set the boundary at the 49th parallel, which gave America the areas that would become Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. In April 1846, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and killed 11 U.S. soldiers. This came as part of a revolt against the Mexican president, who was considering America's bid to buy California. By May 13, the U.S. had declared war on Mexico. Critics called it "Mr. Polk's War." The war was over by the end of 1847, with Mexico suing for peace. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formally fixed the boundary between Texas and Mexico at the Rio Grande. In addition, the U.S. was able to acquire both California and Nevada. This was the greatest increase in U.S. land since Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. America agreed to pay Mexico $15 million for the territories. During his campaign, Polk promised to only serve 1 term as president. He kept that promise and did not seek re-election in 1848. In 1849, Polk died at the age of 53, only 3 months after his retirement from office. His death was probably due to cholera.

Randy J.

Yelp
This is a nice place to visit to pick up some American/Tennessee history. The staff are nice and knowledgeable about history of President James Polk. The houses have many of his or his wife's original possessions and the tour is well organized. It's just a great place to visit and you can get a veteran's discount on the tickets or a AAA discount. Even without the discount, this is a place well worth visiting.

Susan C.

Yelp
Educational & we'll organized, many interesting facts I recommend visitors go to our little Polk museum

Chris T.

Yelp
A nice place to visit if you're interested in historical places. Not too long of a tour and plenty to see.

Kelly B.

Yelp
This was much more interesting than I thought it would be. Sure, it's small but we learned some things we had not known before. The docent let us take our time to read and see things and was able to answer questions as they came up. The hall was still not open but the price didn't change. In total it took us almost 2 hours to see the home and artifacts.

Grace A.

Yelp
Have a lot to learn on US presidents' lives. Mallory, our guide, is so knowledgeable in US history specially on the life of this president. Will continue to visit Presidential museums/libraries.

Angela P.

Yelp
Full historical experience, very knowledgeable staff and beautiful estate with lots to explore.

Emily M.

Yelp
We had an amazing time! Our tour guide, Cody was very knowledgeable and passionate - he said our tour ran long but we enjoyed every moment. We spent about an hour and a half in the tour/display area/intro video. We did not have time in our schedule to explore other sites on the property (like the exhibit about the Mexican American War).

Katnis246 ..

Yelp
Wasn't far from this little town on vacation and decided to take a look at this small museum. Very interesting and some of the stories told we're kind of funny. The staff was extremely nice and engaging through the tour. The guided tour is about an hour/hour and a half and would highly recommend for the price.

Alexis B.

Yelp
Full disclosure: I'm a nerd who was a history major in college. If you live anywhere near Columbia or you're passing through, you should stop at the James K. Polk Ancestral Home. As the only home the 11th President of the United States lived in that is still standing (with the exception of the White House), the tour of this property is chock-full with interesting history and items owned by the Polks (many from their time in the White House or from Polk Place, the residence of President Polk for the three months he was alive after leaving the presidency). The tour guides at this home/museum are great! My tour guide was Zach, and he was really kind as I asked a lot of questions. Included in the ticket for admission is a video (about 10 minutes long) about Polk's life, a small room ("museum") that tells the story of Polk's life in text and images, and a guided tour of the house. The grounds are open to anyone for free. And there is also the Presidential Hall, a room in a nearby church that was bought by the home/museum to host exhibitions. It's an additional $2 to tour the hall and see the exhibit as well. (When I was there in March 2018, the exhibit was on Polk's cabinet and was very interesting.) There is also a small gift shop with books, t-shirts, items for kids, etc. If you're at all interested in history, I highly recommend that you check out the James K. Polk Ancestral Home. President Polk, while an important and interesting president, is not much remembered or discussed, and touring a home that he lived in before becoming president was a fascinating experience. I was there a week ago, and I've been telling friends and family (we live in Nashville, a short and quite nice drive on a weekend day) that they have to go!

David G.

Yelp
Super impressed with this presidential home and tour! First, I have to admit that I knew next to nothing about President James K. Polk. So, I was simply looking to learn something about the man. But this home and tour blew away my expectations. The home itself is a treasure trove of Polk furniture and artifacts. It is rare that you see this many actual items owned by the actual President. Oftentimes, you hear, "They would have owned something similar." Not here. Almost all of the items came directly from the President himself or his wife, Sarah. I was shocked. The tour guide...wow. He was maybe the most knowledgeable Presidential tour guide I've ever been with. I asked a lot of questions, since, as I mentioned above, I didn't know anything about the President. But I also asked historical questions that were loosely related to the President, and this guy didn't flinch. He was all over those questions. He was cranking out dates and facts as if he'd actually been there to see it. And the prices weren't too bad. You get a $2 price cut for being a AAA member, which brought the ticket price down to $8. That was a steal for what I got out of it.

Stephanie W.

Yelp
Honestly, a MUST-VISIT for anyone who is even marginally interested in U.S. history. My parents recently moved to Columbia, TN, and I was shocked to learn that this town I had never heard of lays claim to a former U.S. President. I had to find out more! I sure am glad I did! I learned SO much about not only the 11th President of the United States, but about Andrew Jackson, John C. Fremont, and other historical figures I had heard of but knew nothing about. My husband and I are avid museum-goers and tour junkies, and even we were blown away by how much our tour guide, Benjamin, knew about EVERYTHING touching Polk's life and era. He was infinitely patient in answering our barrage of questions as he unleashed fascinating story after story. We left the tour with a bag full of biographies and that satisfied feeling of time well-spent. We have since recommended this tour to anyone who will listen :) Even if you're only passing through Columbia, take an hour and stop by this place--you'll be glad you did!

Douglas B.

Yelp
Interesting place. Their website doesn't mention wheelchair access but the visitor center is accessible via a brick pathway. The pathway needs some attention to make it easier to use. The rose bushes need pruning as they are growing into the walkway. The Polk residence is semi accessible ; there is a step (approximately 4 inch) getting in without a ramp. The video provided a good overview and the tour guide talked about some interesting topics. Small museum collection is interesting. Nice accessible bathrooms adjacent to visitor center. Glad we went.

Brigitte S.

Yelp
I took my homeschooled daughter here for the experience and we both enjoyed it. I had been years ago and I was glad to see it was still informative and fun. Our tour guide Mallory was incredibly well versed in the history of the Polks and the house itself.

Cass G.

Yelp
Docent was very knowledgeable and the home was well.maintained. short tour. Only two rooms to viee

A C.

Yelp
A jewel of a museum. Excellently curated. Polk, our eleventh president, was indeed an interesting man, and the era he lived in...equally so. Docent/guide, Debbie, is superb!

Jennifer M.

Yelp
Great informative tour. Phyllis did an excellent job. History buffs will enjoy and learn a lot they didn't know!!

Chris P.

Yelp
It is pretty small but it is not very expensive. Very interesting history on a president that not many know about. Our tour guide was Benjamin super knowledgeable and made the tour a real delight. We made sure to visit a second time (and will go again!) when we were in Nashville.

Ricky K.

Yelp
If you love history you're going to love touring the James K. Polk home and Museum. Tweaks your interest in the early days of adventurous happenings of the people who made the country prosper.

Ed L.

Yelp
History is fun, don't you think? Learning about it through lecture and textbooks when you went to high school and college, but return to rediscover it and love it as an adult. Traveling to see living history and putting 1 and 1 together does just that. I saw the signage for the President James K Polk boyhood home actually on the interstate I-65 south heading back to Huntsville, AL, heading from a nice day of driving from Nashville and sightseeing. It was nice to see the sign along the interstate and it gave me an excuse to take a break and check things out. While this home isn't by any means his home in President James Polk's adult life, it's a piece of Americana that is always treasured by anyone and everyone who has interests in discovering and rediscovering history at any age. I arrived here late in the day and thankfully, they were about to close in half hour, so I got in just in time. They told me no photographs inside the building, so I just took pics of the outside grounds. It's kind of amazing how the town grew up around the home. The overall experience here was really good and very educational. I think I should do these kind of tourist attractions more and appreciate where we've come from as a nation. From a new nation to humble beginnings, war and division, to uniting as a formidable nation, to what we have in the modern 21st century. The 2 centuries thereafter have been kind to this house and the dedicated people who help keep this place in tip top shape are awesome! I ultimately chose to do the self guided tour, considering the time constraints. I tried to cover basically everything in 45 minutes, which was generous of them. I actually had cash on me, since i went to the ATM for fear of tolls and needed cash. Lol The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour on average, so a brief half hour to see everything was decently enough for me. 30 minutes really did cover most things and I was satisfied about that. While you see most things regarding his childhood, most of his presidential stuff is housed elsewhere, as you may imagine. Still, it was a house as you know. Many of the things you'd find at your own homes are relevant here, just much of the modern conveniences are scaled down into basic rudimentary contraptions in the early days of invention and ideas. The parking here is very limited, although there is spaces for the museum on the street. I was lucky to find them on a casual weekday afternoon just before rush hour in Columbia, TN. But then again, is there really rush hour here? The rest of the complex is quite beautiful, with his sister's home, the kitchen, and the surrounding gardens. For the most part, gravitating towards coming here is an interesting proposition. It's definitely a tourist attraction, but like ghost tours and others, you'd want to come here and appreciate what is here at the President James K Polk ancestral home. Kind of wished that I did get here earlier and get the full treatment of $10 for the guided tour, but what can you do when driving a long distance can eat up a lot of time on the interstate. Ugh. Oh well. For what it's worth, I'd recommend coming here if you are in the area and are into US presidents and presidential history. While this isn't necessarily tied to his presidency, you can see how his upbringing is tied to his demeanor and charm to be president of the United States in the mid 1840's. 4.5 stars! I'd go back if my travels permit me to and do the guided tour. Till then, it was well worth it. Support local! B+

Tim T.

Yelp
Great place to go to get some history it's a great way to spend your day not too expensive it's not something you wanna do every day but maybe once every few years did you change it up a little bit every once in a while

Ka M.

Yelp
We visited Columbia on a day trip and stopped here for a tour. The tour begins with a well done video on President Polk. Then you can go through the small museum they have in their visitors center. It has some great artifacts that relate to Polk. My favorite was the cast of Tom Thumbs foot. After that a guide will take you on a tour of the home. The home has some wonderful portraits by Healy and Sully, prominent portrait artists in the South. It also showcases some furnishings from when the Polks were in the White House. After the tour, you can walk the garden and see the detached kitchen. It's a really great tour and house, very informative and accurate. I really recommend coming here!

Sarah J.

Yelp
I'm a history buff but this tour sadly didn't peak my interest. The home and furnishings were beautiful but the docent's talk seemed long on details of Polk's role as president, wars and land acquisitions and just didn't fill the bill for me. It was almost like reading a chapter from my 8th grade history book. Maybe this says more about me than it does the docent.

Beth D.

Yelp
I'm so glad we went here. The docents are very engaging and informative. There are so many neat artifacts from the Polk family and info about them and their way of life. Highly recommended!

Allen B.

Yelp
Small museum but very well done. I learned a lot about Polk thanks to well done displays and very informed staff. The docents were what I found most impressive. The fellow leading my tour gave details and context that I had not heard. And he was very patient with questions. Worth the visit.

Kenneth N.

Yelp
Zach was our tour guide, and he was everything you would want in a guide. He gave you the general story and the more questions you asked the more you realize that he was a true expert in his field. Super interesting and not rushed. Made the subject matter come to life and not just the subject but the whole time period. Knew the Polk family inside and out. Wonderful

Denise K.

Yelp
Took a tour of this wonderful home where James K. Polk lived as a young man. Our tour guide, Helen, was one of the best, if not the best, tour guide we have ever had. She was extremely knowledgeable about the home and had a wonderful sense of humor! Her stores were informative, interesting and delivered with a great sense of humor. There is a small museum with many interesting items that actually belonged to President Polk.