Murfreesboro, TN - Oaklands Mansion has been awarded an $85,000 grant from the Tennessee General Assembly to help complete ongoing capital maintenance projects at the historic site.

The funding comes from the state’s 2024–2025 Capital Maintenance and Improvements Grant program, which made $5 million available to eligible museums through a competitive application process administered by the Tennessee State Museum. In all, 157 applications were submitted, requesting more than double the available funds.

James Manning, executive director of Oaklands Mansion, said the latest allocation will help wrap up a series of upgrades made possible through this year’s grant cycle. “We have almost finished all of our current projects,” he said in a statement. “This support goes a long way in helping us preserve this important site.”

Built between 1818 and 1858, Oaklands Mansion is a historic house museum recognized for its Italianate architecture and ties to the Civil War. Once home to the Maney family, the mansion hosted notable figures including Confederate President Jefferson Davis and former First Lady Sarah Childress Polk.

The grounds of the estate became a battlefield during the First Battle of Murfreesboro in 1862. Union Colonel William Duffield was treated for his injuries inside the home after being wounded nearby—a notable episode in the site’s wartime history.

After decades of decline, local preservationists saved the property from demolition in the 1950s. Today, Oaklands functions as a museum and community venue, offering tours, educational programming, and event space throughout the year.

For more information or to plan a visit, go to oaklandsmansion.org or visit 900 N. Maney Ave. in Murfreesboro.