About Us
Our Story
First meeting on starting a museum,
October 1995.
Ribbon cutting on March 30, 1996.
Rome Area History Center, 2021.
The Rome Area History Center has been a part of Rome for 26 years. The museum officially opened on March 30, 1996, but the idea for the museum was born six months before. We credit Dr. C.J. Wyatt, Bobby McElwee, John Carruth, David Oswalt, Ed Byars, and numerous volunteers for bringing the museum to life. Even though things have changed, you can always step back in time and see the amazing history of Rome and its surrounding areas through our exhibits and extensive archival collection.
Our Vision
A new expanded Rome Area History Center
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Complete interactive timeline of Rome/Floyd County history
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Themed exhibits focus on the diversity of the Rome area
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Special events and programming to attract all generations
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Reading and research room with public access to archives
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Event space with multimedia capabilities
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Enhanced gift shop
Staff
For historians ought to be precise, truthful, and quite unprejudiced, and neither interest nor fear, hatred nor affection, should cause them to swerve from the path of truth, whose mother is history, the rival of time, the depository of great actions, the witness of what is past, the example and instruction of the present, the monitor of the future."
-Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
There is always something to learn about our history. Never stop educating yourself or learning about history whether it’s family history…local history…or world history. Explore and learn and be prepared to readjust your perspective. – T Pope
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Hope Pike
Rome Area History Center
Archival Assistant
"What I do not accept [...] are the old clichés that to explain is to excuse, to understand is to forgive. Explaining is not excusing; understanding is not forgiving." - Christopher R. Browning, Ordinary Men
History is not linear and should never be sugar-coated or hidden. It should not be forgotten lest we find ourselves repeating it. - H Pike
Faith Garmany
Rome Area History Center
Archival Assistant
"The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future." - Theodore Roosevelt
Sarah Curl
Rome Area History Center
Researcher and Front Desk Greeter
"Well-behaved women rarely make history." - Anonymous