Local Museums Partner to Promote Native American History

Media Release- The Rome Area History Museum, in partnership with Chieftains Museum / Major Ridge Home, will be unveiling our new exhibit loan, at the Rome Area History Museum, 305 Broad Street, with a wine and cheese "unveiling event" Thursday, March the 28^th from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. This special event will include a talk by Heather Shores, Executive Director of Chieftains Museum / Major Ridge Home, about the restoration plans for the Major Ridge home. This event is free and open to the public however, the public is welcome to donate and any contributions received that evening will be divided between the two museums.

The exhibit panels, that will now be on display at the Rome Area History Museum, explore early Native American life in the Floyd County area, including a model of a 16th century Native American village and information about Hernando de Soto's travels through the southeastern United States from 1539 to 1542. Featured in the exhibit is a 16th century replica Spanish sword and helmet created by Bob Harris. The sword is a replica of the sword hilt found by the rivers locally.

According to Ms. Shores "We are very pleased to be able to partner with the Rome Area History Museum to give this exhibit new life."

The loan of this exhibit by Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home to the Rome Area History Museum is part of a larger partnership program currently underway by Chieftains. The museum is dedicated to fostering relationships with other area and regional museums and cultural institutions. The mission of Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home is to preserve and interpret the story of the 19th century Cherokee through the life and home of the Ridge family. Future plans for Chieftains include rehabilitation of the house back to its 1837 appearance to promote a greater understanding of the life of the Ridge family.

Leigh Barba, Executive Director of the Rome Area History Museum says, "I am extremely pleased that our museums are now working together for the benefit of all. There are so many wonderful cultural aspects to our community, and it is important that our local non-profits lend support and encouragement to each other."