Field Trips to Chieftains are fun as well as educational

Tours of Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home are age appropriate, and usually last 45 minutes to one hour. Expanded programs are fun and in most cases involve the students making something to take home. With programs that do not involve making a craft, each child will still receive a small remembrance.

Major Ridge was one of the most important people to live in Northwest Georgia. He was a leader among the Cherokee for many years and yet is remembered for betraying his people by signing the Treaty of New Echota which led to the deaths of 4,000 Cherokees along the Trail of Tears. We tell the story of the Cherokees and the Ridge Family. Was he a traitor… or a patriot? Your students can decide.

With groups of more than 30 students, we recommend adding at least one of the expanded programs so that we can divide the group into smaller groups which makes it better for the students. A tour alone is $1.50 per student, if you add a program the total price would be $2.50 per child. With the tour and one program, the time will be about 2 hours. If you chose more additional programs that would add another $1.50 per additional program, plus the trip will take longer. There are a few expanded programs which have higher fees, but they are noted .

Expanded Programs

Cherokee Animal Tales

This program is our offering for pre K – 1st grade. There is not a full tour of the museum, you would need to request one if you wish to have one. We do go throughout the museum and see selected things. There is no other program offered with this. Special arrangements can be made, but this is what we do for younger children in the place of a guided tour. The younger students hear about how it was to be a Cherokee child and then watch a puppet show portraying a Cherokee animal tale. Each child receives a finger puppet to take home. This program lasts about a hour to a hour and a half. Price-$2.00

Legends in the Mist (k and up)

Play Native American games then listen to a Cherokee story. Everyone gets a lucky stone to take home!

Sacred Symbols (k and up)

Explore Southeastern Indian design and why they were used. Then decorate your own leather-like bracelets with your own Native American designs.

“GWY” Cherokee writing (2nd grade and up)

Practice picture writing and then hear about Sequoyah, the Cherokee who invented the Cherokee Syllabary. Students will write a word in Cherokee on a magnet to take home.

Digging up the Past (k through 3rd grade)

Learn a bit about archaeology, see the archaeological site where some of the artifacts that were found at Chieftains came from and then we will pretend we are archaeologists and unearth things from years gone by in a special area created just for this program!  This program is dependent on the weather.

Old Days (2nd grade and up) NEW PROGRAM!

One of the first white men in this area was George Lavender. He ran the trading post for Major Ridge. Early settlers lived differently than we do today. Learn about how life was in those days in a fun program where the students get to do some of the activities that were once a way of life for both settlers and Cherokees.

Special Seasonal Programs

Ghostly Tales at Chieftains (3rd grade and up)

A special Halloween treat! Hear scary stories by members of the Seven Hills Tellers for this special holiday. Then make your own medicine bag for good luck! This program lasts about 90 minutes and the price is $3.50 per child. No tour included with this program. Offered Oct. 27-29.

Christmas Through the Years (2nd grade and up)

View Christmas trees decorated as they would have been during past eras. See trees from the time of Major Ridge, the Civil War, the Victorian years, the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. There will be period toys and other items on display as well. Play games from those past times. $3.00 per student. Offered Nov. 17-Jan.7

Teachers and bus drivers are free of charge. 1 free adult per every 10 paying students. Don’t forget our museum store! Goodies from 25 cents! Most items cost between two and eight dollars. All sales go back into the museum’s programs. Chieftains is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 to 5. Other dates can be booked if our normal hours do not work for you to be able to visit. To book a trip call Debby at 706 291-9494 Wednesday-Saturday or email at debrown4@bellsouth.net.