Native American history weaves it way through Northwest Georgia with stories of the Cherokee tribe and the Trail of Tears. The Cherokees are the most well-known tribe of the region but the area was also home to Mississippians and the Creek tribes. Here are seven places where you can learn more.

New Echota State Historic Site, Calhoun

Located just north of the Calhoun city limits, New Echota State Historic Site marks significant developments in Cherokee Indian history. New Echota became the capital of the Cherokee Nation in 1825 and remained so until the Trail of Tears began in the late 1830s. The site has 12 original and reconstructed buildings that tell the story of the tribe. Worcester House, home of Rev. Samuel A. Worcester, is the only original building on the site. It opened in 1962. Make sure to visit the small museum on the site before heading to the village.

One of the most interesting stops is the print shop where you can learn about the first newspaper printed in an Indian language. The shop includes a complete printing press and a chart depicting the Cherokee alphabet. The original press was taken by the Georgia Militia in 1835 but a similar press is there. On some Saturdays, you may meet a volunteer in the printing office that will demonstrate how it works.

The other buildings tell the story of how the Cherokees lived. You can peer inside a cabin and see the furnishings. You will also find the Cherokee Nation’s Supreme Courthouse and Town Council House.  If you are lucky you might see a beaver in the pond located at the site.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and children.

Fun fact: The Cherokee had their own ball fields long before football or baseball began. They played a game called Anesta, where teams would throw a ball through a goal at the other end of the field. The winner was the first team that scored 12 times. The exact location of the exact field is not known, a marker discusses the game’s history.

Chief Vann House Historic Site, Chatsworth

Chief Vann House in Chatsworth was home to James Vann, who built the two-story structure in the early 1800s. We didn’t get to tour the house, so if you visit, make sure you check for tour times on the website.

We were able to take a tour of the Cherokee Farmstead Exhibit, which consists of Native American buildings from the 1800s. The Cherokee Dwelling House is a must-see. The cabin, built in the 1800s, moved from Pickens County to the Vann House site in 2005. The floor, which has wooden pegs, fascinated me. That’s something I rarely see.

Chief Vann’s plantation was the largest of all in the Cherokee Nation. At one time, 95 log buildings were also on the site. A barn that at one time housed up to 1,000 cattle, 150 hogs and 250 horses was once there.

Regular admission is $7 and there are discounts for seniors and youth.

Fun fact: Do you ever wonder how food was kept fresh before refrigerators? Chief Vann built a log springhouse on the site in 1803, according to a marker on the Vann’s Spring Interpretive Trail. The springhouse was destroyed a few years later but one owned by Dr. James Eldridge Bradford is located on the trail.

Etowah Indian Mounds, Cartersville

The Etowah Indian Mounds depict Mississippian culture in Northwest Georgia from 1,000 A.D. to 1550 A.D. You can climb up the mounds to get a view of the beautiful area. Native Americans raised crops built the mounds and communicated with other nearby villages. The tribe moved closer to the Coosa River in 1550 A.D., according to the site’s markers.

There are two things you don’t want to miss on your visit. The first is the Nature Trail along the Etowah River. I love birds, and I enjoyed seeing the signs identifying those native to the region. You can also learn about the fish trap dams. They are visible during the summer and fall, according to the site.

Also, don’t miss the small museum and gift shop. It’s a great place to learn more about Native American Heritage in Northwest Georgia and pick up a cool souvenir.

Admission is $6 for adults, $4.50 for those over 62 and $4 for children ages 6-17.

Fun Fact: Cartersville is known for its museums so after you leave the museum, tour some of the other great sites. You can learn more about what the area has to offer here.

Funk Heritage Center, Waleska

The Funk Heritage Center on the campus of Waleska’s Reinhardt University is one of those places many may not know about but should. You start with this amazing tool collection. You could spend hours in that one room. But you have to see the other exhibits.

The center’s exhibits weave the story of Native Americans and other settlers along the Etowah River from the beginning to the Trail of Tears. The tales include how the tribe caught game using spear throwers to the creation of beautiful pottery. The grounds include plants native to the area.

Admission is $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors over 65 and $5 for children under 18.

Fun fact: The tool exhibit also includes veterinary tools used to take care of the animals. They include the sweat scraper, that was used to groom a horse’s coat.

Vann Cherokee Cabin, Cave Spring

The Vann Cherokee Cabin in Cave Spring is one of Northwest Georgia’s most fascinating stories. The cabin was discovered inside the Webster-Green Hotel in downtown Cave Spring as it was being demolished. The locals worked to restore the cabin. We were there for its dedication in 2016.

The cabin was built around 1810 and was home to Avery Vann, Chief James Vann’s brother. Some say the cabin the the second-oldest two-story Native American structure.

You can explore the home for free.

Fun fact: Cave Spring is home to a mineral spring. You may see people filing jugs with water when you visit.

John Ross House, Rossville

The Chief John Ross House in Rossville may be hard to spot if you aren’t looking for it. John Ross, a Cherokee leader, lived in the home in the early 19th century, according to the National Park Service. The house is southwest of its original location. If you go to the parking lot of Food City on U.S. 27 and look north, you will see it at its Lake Avenue location.

The exterior of the John Ross House has been upgraded to include a short walking trail, benches and a picnic table. The house is always open but double check about acces before you go. There is no admission fee.

Fun fact: The John Ross House is located near several other historical sites. The Chickamauga Battlefield site is just a few miles south on U.S. 27. Take U.S. 27 a few miles north and you are in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which has several unique museums.

Chieftain’s Museum, Rome

Chieftain’s Museum in Rome was the first home of Major Ridge. It’s been years since we have toured the museum. The first day we have several hours of free time in Rome, we plan to go.

The house was opened as a museum in 1971. According to its website, it’s certified by the National Park Service as an official site on the Trail of Tears. The museum has several special events and exhibits throughout the year.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and those over 62.

Fun Fact: Chieftains Museum is beautifully landscaped and is home to one of the 257 sites in Georgia on the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. You can learn more about the trail here.