President James K Polk State Historic Site

In Pineville, NC, President James K Polk State Historic Site is a museum and a historic site that tells the story of James Polk, the 11th POTUS. There are two attractions, the main cabin house that was built in the 1790s and a kitchen cabin from 1804. Both features sit on 21 of 150 original acres that his father, Samuel Polk, owned.

The original house was occupied by Samuel, Jane Polk, and their growing family. By 1806, the couple had five children, the eldest being the future president of the United States, James K.Polk. The Polk family relocated to Columbia, TN, a year later and, the home was sold to different owners over the years. The last owners used the house as a barn for livestock.

Both sites have been reconstructed using local structures based on the eyewitness description of Governor David Swain, who had written about the Polk home in his diary in great detail. The kitchen cabin was originally known as Kuykendall, and it was on Kuykendall’s Green property, near the Providence Presbyterian Church. The materials used included paneling, flooring, stairway rail, doors, logs, rafters, bricks, and more. Other materials were sourced from unused buildings in neighboring counties.

The historic site commemorates primary events in the eventful Polk administration, such as the Mexican-American War, the annexation of California, and the resolution of the Oregon boundary dispute. The Visitor’s Center features a film on Polk’s life, family exhibits, and his turbulent presidency.

Guided cabin tours are available at regular intervals throughout the day, each lasting about 25 minutes. Tours begin at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily.

Get to President James K Polk State Historic Site from Well Doctor LLC by taking the I-485 Inner and drive for 44 miles. It’s on 12031 Lancaster Hwy.

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