Native American Heritage Month is observed every November, calling attention to the rich history, cultures and traditions of the country’s indigenous peoples. North Georgia has an extensive Native American history that’s highlighted in state historical sites, museum exhibits and more.
Learn more about Native American history and culture this month by visiting some of the following Georgia sites or by participating in a fun, educational activity:
Chief Vann House
82 Highway 225 N. Chatsworth, GA 30705. $5.50-$6.50. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. 706-695-2598.
Visit the plantation house and grounds of Chief James Vann, who became a Cherokee leader and wealthy businessman during the 1790s. Construction of the 2 ½-story brick home was completed in 1804, and, with its 1,000 acres of land, was the largest and most prosperous plantation in the Cherokee Nation. The family lost their home in the 1830s when state and federal troops forced almost the entire Cherokee Nation westward on the Trail of Tears. It’s the state’s best-preserved historic Cherokee Indian home and has interesting features including hand carvings and a “floating” staircase.
New Echota
1211 Chatsworth Highway NE, Calhoun, GA 30701. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. $5.50-$7. 706-624-1321.
New Echota had a short history, but is one of the most significant Cherokee sites in the country. It was the capital of the Cherokee Nation and was also where the Cherokee removal on the Trail of Tears officially began. Twelve original and reconstructed buildings are available to see, including a courthouse and print shop.
Etowah Indian Mound
Credit: From gastateparks.org
Credit: From gastateparks.org
813 Indian Mounds Road SE, Cartersville, GA 30120. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, mounds area closes at 4:30 p.m. $2-$6. 770-387-3747.
From 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D., Etowah Mounds was home to several thousand Native Americans, and it’s the most intact site of of the Mississippian culture in the Southeast. The site protects six earthen mounds, a plaza, village site and more, and visitors can see museum artifacts that show how natives of this area used shell beads, feathers and copper ear ornaments.
Kolomoki Mounds
205 Indian Mounds Road, Blakely, GA 39823. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. $3.50-$5, $5 parking. 229-724-2150.
The Kolomoki Mounds were occupied by Woodland Indians from around 350 A.D. to 750 A.D. The mounds are one of the Southeast’s oldest and largest Woodland sites. Visitors can explore the 57-foot-tall great temple mound, as well as other smaller mounds.
Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. $9.80-$23.41 for nonmembers, free for members. 404-814-4000.
View the Native Lands exhibit, which explores the Creek and Cherokee people and their connections to Georgia through their art, music and ceremonies.
Pottery People: Cherokee
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. $30 residents, $45 non-residents. Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center, 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Berkeley Lake, GA 30096. 678-277-0920.
At this educational event, kids 10 and up can learn about Gwinnett County’s Native American history and the pottery of the Cherokee people. Afterwards, you can make your own coil-and-pinch pottery.
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Credit: From collections.carlos.emory.edu
Credit: From collections.carlos.emory.edu
571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. $6-$8, free for members, Emory University students, faculty and staff with Emory ID, children age 5 and under.
The Art of the Americas collection at Emory University’s Carlos Museum features pieces excavated from the Etowah Indian Mounds as well as a collection of items from Native American groups from across the U.S.
Marietta Museum of History
1 Depot St., Marietta, GA 30060. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. $5-$7, free for members, active military with ID and children under 5.
The museum houses early Native American pottery found in Cobb County, a unique collection of bird tip arrowheads and an 1860 bible written in the Cherokee language. You can also learn about the Trail of Tears, directional markers used by Native Americans and more.
Gwinnett County Public Library
Various branches and times.
Branches of the Gwinnett County Public Library are holding virtual and in-person events throughout Native American Heritage Month, including a cooking demonstration from the author of “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen” and a discussion of how the Cherokee people treated themselves using medicinal plants.
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