PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, DATED JANUARY 13, 2010,
                    TO THE PROSPECTUS, DATED MAY 1, 2009, FOR
                           TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION
                                (THE CORPORATION)

On September 30, 2009, Ameriprise Financial, Inc., the parent company of
RiverSource Investments, LLC, the Corporation's investment manager
(RiverSource), announced the acquisition of the long-term asset management
business of Columbia Management Group, LLC, and its affiliated companies
(Columbia) (the Columbia Transaction). The Columbia Transaction is subject to
certain approvals and other conditions to closing, and is currently expected to
close in the spring of 2010 (the "Closing").

In connection with the anticipated integration of the long-term asset management
businesses of Columbia and RiverSource following the Closing, RiverSource has
determined that the Corporation's portfolio managers primarily responsible for
overseeing the Corporation's investments, effective upon and subject to the
Closing, will be as follows:

BRIAN M. CONDON

     -    Managing Director of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC.

     -    Associated with Columbia Management Advisors, LLC or its predecessors
          as an investment professional since 1999.

GINA K. MOURTZINOU, PH.D.

     -    Managed the Corporation since 2008.

     -    Joined RiverSource Investments as a portfolio manager and member of
          the Disciplined Equity and Asset Allocation Team in 2002.

     -    Co-founded Dynamic Ideas, LLC, a consulting firm that specialized in
          the development of quantitative tools for the asset management
          industry, where she served as Vice President of Research and
          Analytics, 1999 to 2002.

     -    Began investment career as a consultant to asset managers in 1996;
          became portfolio manager in 2002.

     -    Ph.D., MIT.

FRED COPPER, CFA

     -    Managing Director of Columbia Management Advisors, LLC.

     -    Associated with Columbia Management Advisors, LLC or its predecessors
          as an investment professional since September 2005. Prior to 2005, Mr.
          Copper was a senior vice president at Putnam Investments from March
          2001 to September 2005.

Pending the Closing, each of the portfolio manager(s) set forth in the
Corporation's prospectus is expected to continue in his or her current role.