New Echota State Historic Site announces that award winning watercolor artist Billy Mack Steele will visit the site on Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Known for his paintings of the Trail of Tears and various Native American people and scenes, Steele has also created paintings of many North Georgia scenes for festivals and art shows and has visited many schools around northwest Georgia presenting painting programs in his Arts in the School Programs.

Visitors will have an opportunity to visit with Steele and watch him work on a special painting for New Echota State Historic Site. Steele’s paintings of the Trail of Tears and Chief John Ross currently hang in the visitor center at New Echota.

Cosponsored by the Calhoun-Gordon County Community Grant Foundation as part of the Visiting Artist Series New Echota is offering this year, Steele will also be joined by the volunteer members of the Friends of New Echota Historic Site as they give tours of the historic buildings and grounds and provide historical demonstrations of early 19th century lifestyle.

“This is the time of the Cherokee Green Corn Moon ‘Tihaluhiyi’ Celebration as summer arrives and the new corn plants are growing,” said Site Manager David Gomez.

“Gordon County Master Gardener members have the demonstration garden at the middle-class farmstead looking great and it is the perfect time to come out to New Echota and visit with Mr. Steele, learn about the history of the site from the site staff and Friends of New Echota, and also hike the nature trails. Even with our recent early heat wave, the New Town Creek overlook has been a nice cool spot to picnic,” Gomez added.

Regular admission fees of $3.50 to $5 will be charged and State Park & Historic Sites annual passes and Friends of Georgia State Parks Membership Passes are available for purchase in advance or on the day of the events at New Echota.

The 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 information, visit www.friendsofnewechota.org or call 706-624-1321. Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites are operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Steele will also be at the Running Water Powow at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome; the event takes place the first weekend in September

Steele's painting will appear on the annual t-shirt for the event.