Tour the Leonidas L. Polk House Museum
Explore the life of Col. Leonidas L. Polk
“Col. Polk is nearer a steam locomotive than any man we know in an official capacity." -John S. Long, Farmer & Mechanic
Who is Leonidas L. Polk and why is he worth learning about?
A reformer, educator, writer, and revolutionary: few people in American history can boast a legacy as multifaceted and impactful as Leonidas Lafayette Polk. Hailing from an important family in North Carolina, Polk served in the American Civil War and returned home to find North Carolina's farmers struggling under the burden of debt, poverty, and a lack of educational opportunities. Leonidas L. Polk dedicated his life to fiercely fighting for the rights and interests of North Carolina's farmers in any way he could. This included publishing newspapers for farmers, creating farmers' educational institutions, and pushing for a revolutionary new approach to politics. Polk would change the lives of farmers and the history of America forever. On this tour of his house in Raleigh, explore the history and impact of Col. Leonidas L. Polk.