Historic Columbus seeks city partnership to relocate Alma Thomas House beside Ma Rainey House
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Summary
Historic Columbus asked council for a partnership and city support to move and restore the Alma Thomas childhood home next to the Ma Rainey House; the nonprofit said it will raise about $1 million and asked the city to provide the same operating support the Ma Rainey House receives.
Historic Columbus presented a proposal to City Council on Dec. 16 to relocate the childhood home of artist Alma Thomas to a city‑owned lot adjacent to the Ma Rainey House in the Liberty Heritage Historic District and to convert it into a city‑owned house museum. Elizabeth Walden, executive director of Historic Columbus, described Alma Thomas’s local roots and national significance and said Historic Columbus now owns the structure and will raise approximately $1,000,000 to fund relocation, restoration, exhibit installation and a preservation endowment.
Why it matters: The organization said the relocation will create a unique cultural pairing next to the Ma Rainey House, expand educational programming and heritage tourism in the Liberty District and relieve crowding at the Ma Rainey House by providing additional exhibit and group space.
Walden outlined a phased plan: Historic Columbus will relocate and restore the structure, contract with a professional curator for exhibit design, and establish an advisory committee that includes Columbus Museum representation. Walden asked the city to provide operating support comparable to the Ma Rainey House (she cited Ma Rainey House annual expenses as a reference point) and to accept the property as a city‑owned house museum; Historic Columbus said it would retain ownership of interior contents and create a preservation fund.
Florine Dawkins, chair of the project for Historic Columbus, framed the proposal in local history and civic stewardship terms and recalled long‑running preservation work in the Liberty District. The administration proposed returning to council on Jan. 13 with an MOU for council approval.
Representative quote: • “Historic Columbus will be raising approximately $1,000,000 for our side of the project to relocate, renovate, install exhibits, and establish a preservation fund,” Elizabeth Walden said.
Next steps: City staff and Historic Columbus will return Jan. 13 with a memorandum of understanding for council consideration. If the MOU is approved, the organizations expect to coordinate fundraising, relocation planning and exhibit design with the Thomas family and local partners.
Ending: Council signaled support for bringing the MOU in January so the partnership can proceed to the next step toward establishing the Alma Thomas House as a public house museum.
