chieftains museum / major ridge home

We arrived as the museum was closed but the manager allowed us to come in while she was closing up. This was very nice, we walked around quickly, but enough to get a feel of the museum and will come back again.This is a very dark period in American history, every American should know what went on for our Native American peoples.

The museum curator, Heather Shores is immensely likable and very knowledgeable. A good place to go if you are interested in some of the history of Rome.

Most people do not know that before they were removed west on the Trail of Tears, the Cherokees in Georgia lived much as white men. Major Ridge owned property and slaves in the Rome, Georgia area. He ran a farm and a ferry across the river and was wealthy. This museum is his home and it includes some nice artifacts and information about the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears.