Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home

Bee a citizen scientist with the Master Gardeners at Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home for our Pollinator Pop-In on August 21st and 22nd! We will be hosting the pollinator census, which helps actual scientists study pollinators in the Southeast! Come to enjoy light snacks, participate in story time, and even win a small prize! The best part? It's FREE!

We had so much fun at our workshop yesterday! We hope you did too. Thank you so much to everyone who showed up and learned about Cherokee animals! If you missed this one, we do a different themed homeschool workshop the first Wednesday of every month! Be on the lookout for our next one on our social media!

🐾 It's Homeschool Workshop Day at Chieftains Museum!

Stop by today from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM for a fun, pop-in style program perfect for elementary-aged students. Learn about animals important to Indigenous peoples through hands-on crafts and activities, including animal totem necklaces, track exploration, and a sensory tray!

✨ All activities and crafts are included with regular museum admission—no additional fee required!

We hope to see you today!

Resources for Educators (new) Resources for Educators Bringing the Pollinator Census to Your Classroom The Census is a great S.T.E.A.M. activity that you can use in your classroom through a variety of approaches: Science – intr…

Our August Ridge Report is published! View it here or on our website. This includes a summary of August events, a description of our upcoming FREE Pollinator Census days, an artifact highlight, and an article written by one of our incredible Master Gardener volunteers, Nancy Ivester.

History doesn't preserve itself—it takes a community that cares.
When you become a member of Chieftains Museum, you're doing more than purchasing a membership. You're helping preserve Major Ridge's Home, supporting educational programs for students, creating engaging exhibits, and ensuring Cherokee history continues to be shared with future generations.
As a member, you'll also enjoy:
🏛️ Unlimited admission for a year
🎟️ Invitations to exclusive member events
🛍️ Gift shop discounts
📚 Discounts on select museum programs
❤️ The satisfaction of making a lasting impact in your community
Whether you've visited once or return again and again, becoming a member is one of the best ways to support the museum's mission. Join today and help us preserve the past while protecting the future. Visit https://www.chieftainsmuseum.org/membership to become a member today!

Calling all homeschool families!

This drop-in program is a great way to combine history, culture, and creativity in an engaging learning experience for all ages. We can't wait to explore the natural world with you! All activities included with the price of regular admission.

📚 School is almost back in session—have you planned your next field trip yet?

Make history come alive with a visit to Chieftains Museum! We welcome school field trips, homeschool groups, senior citizen groups, scout troops, clubs, and other organizations for engaging guided tours of the historic Major Ridge Home and our museum exhibits.

Our tours encourage students to think critically about Cherokee history, Georgia history, and the people and events that shaped our region while exploring one of Georgia's most significant historic sites.

Dates fill quickly during the fall semester, so reserve your tour today! Visit https://www.chieftainsmuseum.org/tours to schedule your group's visit.

We're Proud to Be a Blue Star Museum!

There's still time to take advantage of free admission through the Blue Star Museums program! Active-duty military personnel and their families can visit Chieftains Museum for FREE through September 7.

Step inside the historic home of Major Ridge, explore Cherokee history and culture, and enjoy a meaningful day of discovery with your family.

Thank you to all who serve our country—we're honored to welcome you to the museum this summer!

Grady Ferguson, a rising senior at Darlington with an interest in American History and Business, was one of our incredible interns this summer! We absolutely loved having him. Here is what Grady wrote about his time at Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home:

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Chieftains Museum, where I worked on a variety of projects that combined history and technology. I helped create digital content, researched historical topics, edited videos and found new ways to engage visitors both in person and online. My favorite thing I did this summer was create a digital voting interactive based on the 1835 Treaty of New Echota.
I'm incredibly grateful to the staff at Chieftains Museum for giving me the opportunity to work throughout the summer before my senior year of high school. It was an experience that helped prepare me for working in the historical field while also deepening my appreciation for preserving and sharing local history.

Everyone wish Grady luck in his final year at Darlington!