Discover Rome: Rivers, History and Nature

Rome, Georgia, combines distinctive river geography with regional history and nature. The Etowah, Oostanaula and Coosa rivers flow through the city center. These different themes can also play a role when planning your trip: would you like to learn more about the city’s history, explore nature or go cycling?

Rivers and Getting Oriented in Rome

Heritage Park in downtown Rome is located at the confluence of the Etowah River and the Oostanaula River. The Coosa is also one of the three rivers that flow through the city center. This makes it possible to consider the river geography both in a broader context and at a specific location. The Georgia’s Rome Welcome Centers provide information about attractions, events, activities and maps. You can also book local tours there—a convenient place to start if you want to organize your activities around your interests.

History and Cultural Heritage

At the Rome Area History Center, permanent exhibits span Indigenous peoples and early settlers, the founding of Rome and the Civil War, through to later local culture and industry. Original maps, architectural plans, photographs, correspondence and business records serve as primary sources. A museum visit thus covers both major historical changes and documents from local life.

The Chieftains Museum & Major Ridge Home tells the story of the Cherokee, from their origins to their forced removal. The site is an official location on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The grounds include a demonstration garden with native plants and traditional Cherokee crops. History and the garden offer different points of interest for a visit, from the story of the Cherokee to the plants on display.

The lower level of the Rome Clocktower houses restored clockworks and murals. The images portray Rome’s history from its founding to the present day. Nearby, Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum offers tours of the Oak Hill house, historic gardens and outbuildings. Also nearby, House o’ Dreams offers views of the campus grounds, reservoir, city of Rome, Northwest Georgia region, and Alabama and Tennessee.

Nature and Trails

Marshall Forest is located near Rome in northwest Georgia and is one of the last remaining old-growth forests in the Ridge and Valley Province. The forest includes more than 300 plant species and 55 tree species. Forest communities there include pine-oak, chestnut-oak and mixed hardwood forests. The forest also features two nature trails, the ADA Braille Trail and plant identification signs.

For outdoor exercise, the AdventHealth ECO Greenway offers opportunities for walking, running and, in particular, cycling. Garrard Park & GE Trails offer a different focus: 11 miles of mountain biking trails across several scenic loops, as well as a 1.2-mile walking trail along the outer edge of the park. The options therefore differ both in activity and trail length: the longer routes are designated for mountain biking, while the shorter trail runs along the outer edge of the park.

Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller skates can be used at the Ridge Ferry Park Pump Track. The track features gentle dips, waves and flowing turns. Along with the longer mountain biking loops and the walking trail, it adds another way to get around on wheels.

Planning Your Stay

For your trip, you can start by choosing a focus: rivers and city history, Cherokee heritage, forest nature or cycling. Then compare specific hotel offers to find one that fits your travel plans.

For the broader travel overview: Floyd.