Museum Collection

The Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia actively collects the three-dimensional artifacts and memorabilia that represent the history and culture of Northwest Georgia. The collection is acquired by loan, donation, and purchase and closely supports the institution’s mission in five central collecting areas:

• Native American--Includes artifacts from the Mississippian culture through the removal of the Cherokee in the Northwest Georgia region in the early 1830s.
• Pioneer Culture--Consists of objects illustrating the early settlement of Northwest Georgia and the Appalachian Culture of the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Civil War--Artifacts in this collection range from weapons to material culture in antebellum Northwest Georgia as well as objects resulting from the Atlanta Campaign that swept through the area in 1864 and items pertaining to the Reconstruction period following the war.
• The Textile Industry--A key element of the economic development of both the City of Dalton and Northwest Georgia, this collection includes artifacts pertaining to the early period of the chenille bedspread business as a cottage industry and how it led to the development of the modern carpet industry.
• Modern Georgia--Includes objects that illustrate the history and culture of Northwest Georgia from the late 19th century to the modern era as it relates to the larger context of events in American History such as World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Civil Rights, and the emerging trends of the current culture in the United States.

For additional information about current museum holdings, click here to e-mail Project Director Brian Hilliard.

Recent additions to the collection include: 

• Civil War Union uniform epaulets and personal possessions of William Vine, 43rd Wisconsin Infantry
• Al Sims and Paul Winston collections of Civil War era currency and coins
• 1974 Miss Dalton Junior College homecoming crown
• Carpet and Rug Institute custom area rug collection