The Cherokee County History Center in Canton, GA, will join more than one hundred museums and historical sites statewide in participating in Super Museum Sunday on February 11, 2024, as part of the Georgia Historical Society’s Georgia History Festival. The Center consists of six galleries displaying the history of Cherokee County from the prehistoric past to present day. All six galleries are open to the public during the event, each of which details a unique aspect of local history.
The Center’s Carolyn Smith Galt Gallery introduces visitors to the very beginnings of human habitation of the region. Tracing the development of Native American cultures through their artifacts, the interactive exhibits in this gallery allow visitors to experience aspects of prehistoric life in the region.
The Grisham-Galt-Magruder Gallery tells the next chapter of Cherokee County history, beginning in 1838 with the discovery of gold in the region. This gallery covers the removal of the Native Americans from their ancestral lands, the influx of settlers to the region, Cherokee County’s role in the Civil War, and the beginning of reconstruction.
Following this section is Gallery 3, which highlights the revitalization of the region. Featuring a moonshine distillery and a Jones era mercantile wagon, this gallery celebrates the growth of business and infrastructure in the area, while also addressing the societal issues of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Center’s Douglas gallery picks up in 1929 and explores how Cherokee County delt with the great depression, World War 2, and post-war economic recovery. This gallery displays examples of the uniforms worn by members of the over two thousand men from the county who participated in the war effort, along with letters and other personal artifacts.
The last permanent gallery is the Laura Spears Coogle Gallery, which covers events from 1966 to present day. During this period, the county’s population quadrupled and the I-575 connected the county to Atlanta. The highlight of this gallery is the Dixie speedway stockcar simulation, a hands-on exhibit that provides entertainment as well as information on the county’s history.
The final gallery is the Byron L. Dobbs gallery, which houses temporary exhibits that change on a regular basis. Descriptions of the current or upcoming exhibits are provided at the center’s website to check prior to their visit.
The Cherokee County History Center is run by History Cherokee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Cherokee County history.
Located at 221 E. Marietta Street, Canton, GA 30114, the center is forty miles north of Atlanta. From noon to five on Sunday, February 11,2024, visitors can enjoy free parking and admission to all galleries.
For more information about the History Center or History Cherokee organization, visit their website https://historycherokee.org/about, or contact them by email at info@historycherokee.org.
Learn more about the Georgia History Festival‘s Super Museum Sunday.
