What You Will See   

The Bennett History Museum has a large collection of artifacts representing the American Indian cultures that preceded the European arrival in the Southeast. Projectile points, atalatyl weights, chunky stones and pottery shards are among the cultural remains of ancient cultures. In the Long House are artifacts and text panels telling the story “Of Sky and Earth,” a narrative of the earliest encounters between Europeans and the peoples of the southeast with accompanying artifacts. This is funded by Georgia Power.

The many other artifacts displayed in this room are part of four large collections totaling more than 6,000 items from northwest Georgia. These artifacts were donated to the Funk Heritage Center from the collections of Margie and Tommy Dunn, Buck Cheeves, Hank Hitt, and Jack Richardson. The more significant pieces are exhibited chronologically and described in detail. Starting with the Paleoindian era and moving through the Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and Historic periods, the Hall of the Ancients depicts the lifestyles and tools of our indigenous peoples.

Warluskee’s Corner - Located in the Hall of the Ancients, this area is a comfortable and child friendly place for parents to stop, sit in the rocker and talk to young children about the history of Georgia’s first people. Children’s books about Native Americans and pioneers are available for young readers or for parents to read to preschool children. Using hand puppets, children can act out stories about animals that inhabited this area long ago. Children can touch gourds, deer antlers and the skins of animals that live in this area. 

The Rogers Gallery of Contemporary Indian Art includes paintings, sculptures and other creative works. Rotating exhibits from this collection are always on display. Donated by Clarence and Margaret Rogers, these works of art represent the talents of many people with a wide range of styles and subjects. A majority of these works were created by descendants of the Southeastern Indians, many of whom now live west of the Mississippi due to the removal of their ancestors during the Trail of Tears in the 1800s.

Another permanent exhibit is "Tools of the Trades", the Sellars Collection of Antique Hand Tools. Acquired by Marietta businessman Alan Sellars, this astonishing exhibit includes thousands of tools dating from as early as the 17th century. The individual panels depict a wide variety of trades -- and the design of each panel is a work of art in itself. Why tools? Because they tell the story of the rise of craft and technology in western Europe and North America.

  Located on the grounds of the Funk Heritage Center is another major attraction, the Appalachian Settlement. Designed to interpret the  pioneer experience, the Settlement includes authentic log cabins and other 19th century farm buildings that have been moved from their original locations in the exhibit area, then faithfully reconstructed and furnished. The structures in our village include a settler’s cabin, woodwright’s cabin,  blacksmith shop, syrup mill, grain crib, ’tater house, and threshing floor, as well as a truss bridge and a kingpost bridge. Click here for map of the Settlement.