New Echota-Cherokee Capital State Historic Site in Calhoun and the Friends of New Echota State Historic Site announce that their annual Frontier Day program will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Site staff, volunteers and members of the Friends of New Echota will help bring the historic capi-tal city of New Echota back to life as demonstrations will be occurring throughout the historic grounds and buildings throughout the day.

“This is an opportunity for visitors to see what life was like for frontier Georgians and the Chero-kee during the early 19th century”, said Site Manager, David Gomez. Most Georgians and Cherokee were living an agrarian lifestyle with self-sufficiency being the rule of the day in the 1820’s and 1830’s. Although trade goods from Europe and the United States were heavily impacting Cherokee life during the early 19th century, most Cherokee were growing most of their own food, raising live-stock, spinning, weaving and making their own clothes, as well as becoming craftsman and mechan-ics, with blacksmith shops common throughout the land.

Visitors will be able to see these and many more demonstrations, including music, storytelling and cooking being performed as they tour the historic grounds and learn about the history of the capital city of New Echota and the surrounding area. Known as the starting location for the Trail of Tears, New Echota has twelve historic and reconstructed buildings, a visitor center with exhibits and a 17-minute orientation film, as well as a one-mile nature trail for guests to enjoy.

All historic buildings will be open throughout the day, including the Phoenix Printing Office, where demonstrations of the printing press will be given.

New Echota-Cherokee Capital State Historic Site is located on State Highway 225, 1 mile north of Exit 317, Interstate 75 and is the beginning location for the Cherokee Trail of Tears. For more in-formation, visit www.gastateparks.org or call 706-624-1321. Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites are operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.