First restoration efforts begin on Columbia Art House in downtown Paducah

The first work has begun on restoration of the historic Columbia theater in downtown Paducah. 

Schnell Contractors of Louisville has begun work on the façade of the theater. Work will include cleaning and repairing the glazed terra cotta tile on the front of the theater, as well as repointing the joints between the terra cotta sections. 

“This is the first step of a multi-step exterior rehabilitation process for this magnificent structure,” said Columbia Art House board member Jeff Canter, and head of the group’s design and construction team. In 2022, the board renamed the theater as part of the restoration process.

Since its inception in 2013, the all-volunteer board has raised more than $460,000 from private donors and organizations. The project was approved for a $314,000 Kentucky state tax credit earlier in 2024, and the city of Paducah has pledged a matching grant of $500,000.

The current estimate for this phase of the restoration and repair is around $1.5 million, board chair Darlene Mazzone said. 

The current phase of work will likely be completed late next summer. Phase two will be to rehabilitate the interior flooring, walls, seating areas, and ceiling. More funding will need to be secured for completion of the project.

According to the “Save the Columbia” website, the restoration is meant to serve as “an economic driver, a tool in creative placemaking, a beacon of architectural history and a space for programming” alongside local art house Maiden Alley Cinema. Applications for the restored facility may include film showings, musical performances, author lectures, art exhibits, wedding rentals and more.

The theater opened in 1927 as a vaudeville venue. It was remodeled in the 1950s and served as a movie theater until it closed in 1987. In 2003, the owner donated it to the city of Paducah.

Tax deductible contributions toward the restoration project can be made at columbiaarthouse.org  .