Bartow History Museum: Native Americans in Colonial History

Description

Native Americans in Colonial History

The Bartow History Museum welcomes Don Wells from the Mountain Stewards to its Lunch and Learn series on September 21st at noon.

Most American’s perception of our Indigenous people is one of fierce warriors in war-paint fighting with the settlers who were trying to carve out homesteads in land occupied by the Indians. The Hollywood portrayal is often anchored with the scene of the Calvary coming over the ridge to rescue the settlers from the savage Indians attacking the wagon train. Few, however, know the history of the Indians who served as commissioned officers first with the British and later under the Continental Army. After the Revolutionary War, other warriors fought in battles against the British, Spanish, and other Indian tribes. Many Indians also served as guides for Army units as well as guides for those exploring the frontier as our country expanded west. This presentation tells the story of the Indians, who served as part of the US Militia and US Army.

The lecture is free to museum members and included with the price of admission for not-yet-members. For more information on this and other museum programs, call 770-382-3818, ext. 6288 or visit our website at www.bartowhistorymuseum.org.

About Don Wells
Don graduated from the University of SC in 1962 with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering and spent 28 years in the Navy Civil Engineering Corps followed by ten years in an engineering consultant firm. He and his wife retired to GA in 2000 where he formed the Mountain Stewards, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 2003. In 2007, the Mountain Stewards launched, in conjunction with others in three states, the National Trail Tree Project to locate, document, and preserve Trail Trees which are part of the heritage of Native Americans. In late 2007, the Mountain Stewards launched the Indian Trails Mapping Program to more precisely map Indian Trails from old survey maps of the 1700 and 1800's era. In 2011, Mountain Stewards published their book, Mystery of the Trees, and released their documentary of the same name in 2015.

About the Mountain Stewards
The Mountain Stewards is a Georgia non-profit organization, whose mission is to:

1. Advocate and contribute to the preservation, development, maintenance, enjoyment and appropriate use of trails and open spaces in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
2. Contribute to the preservation and awareness of regional cultural and historical features.
3. Enhance educational opportunities to those who wish to know more about our natural resources.

In 2007, the Mountain Stewards began its Indian Cultural Heritage Program including the Indian Trail Tree Project, The Indian Trails Mapping Program, and the development of the Mystery of the Trees book (published 2011). They released their documentary of the same name in 2015.

About Bartow History Museum
The Bartow History Museum, located at 4 East Church Street in downtown Cartersville, Georgia, documents the history of northwest Georgia’s Bartow County, spanning more than 200 years since the Cherokee were the area’s primary residents. Artifacts, photographs, documents, and a variety of interactive permanent exhibits tell the story of settlement, Cherokee life and removal, Civil War strife, and lifestyles of years past. The Bartow History Museum also provides a variety of educational opportunities for adults, children, families, and school groups. Our extensive archives and research library contains photographs, documents, newspapers, rare books, genealogy records, oral history interviews, and more. For additional information, visit www.bartowhistorymuseum.org.