Beginning more than a thousand years ago, the Cherokee culture that we recognize today spread across the landscape of all of north Georgia, leaving mounds, spear points, pottery, the names of rivers and creeks, and legends that are still told by Cherokee storytellers. Cherokee towns occupied the Chattooga, Tugaloo, and Chattahoochee Rivers in north Georgia, adjoining their Lower towns on the Keowee River. Established trading paths like the Unicoi Trail led north to the rest of the Cherokee Nation and south to the Creek Nation.

Northwestern Georgia, however, including the Coosawattee and Oostanula Rivers, was claimed by both the Creeks and the Cherokees. In 1755, the Cherokees' victory at the Battle of Taliwa gained this land for them, just in time to serve as a new home for refugees from the Lower Towns destroyed by British forces in 1760 and 1761. Within sight of the mountains, the planned community and national capitol of New Echota became the geographical center of the Cherokee nation and the focus of its renascence. Here the Cherokee Nation reached a pinnacle of civilization only to be destroyed by Removal.

For an in-depth look at each one of the interpretive centers along the Cherokee Heritage Trails, including complete articles and quotes, detailed information on all the historical sites, amazing full color photography depicting the land and its people, stories from many of the Cherokee Elders and much more about the wonderful Cherokee culture, make the Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook a part of your personal library. Click here to find out more.

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Sites At New Echota
New Echota State Historic Site
Chief Vann House State Historic Site

Sites Near New Echota
Chieftains Museum
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site

Side Trips
Fort Mountain State Park

Scenic Drives
Central North Georgia
Eastern North Georgia

Events
Candlelight Tours at New Echota and Chief Vann House

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