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A majority of these Indian artifacts have been found in Sumner County. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Shawnee and the Iroquois tribes used this area in Middle Tennessee as a neutral hunting ground. The Shawnee were allow to hunt in here "only until the dogwoods begin to bloom." These Indian tribes were mobile and they did not live in tepees as the Indians of the west. They lived in temporary huts made of cane stalks stuck deep in the ground and "daubed" with a mixture of mud and long grasses. They followed the game that was abundant in this area and also were planters of crops. They were not great pottery makers, but they were beginning to make and use pottery as you can see some of the items that have been found during excavations. Many pieces are still covered with visible soot from the fire where they were baked in the fire pits.
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This is a wonderful photographic display, featuring "then and now" photos of interest in Gallatin, Westmoreland, Portland and Hendersonville. These are made by Allen Haynes. There are three other photographers displayed here, E.M. Stark, Tippy Crutcher and J.E. Flanigan. The display case shows some of the earlier cameras used by notable photographers.
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James Willette, a cartographer of the U.S. Army of the Cumberland drew the large map on the wall in 1864. It shows the small city of Gallatin and the surrounding area. It is drawn on waxed linen and is a topographical map as well as showing the elevation in feet from sea level. Look for the circles which indicate the crest of hills. Houses, taverns, roads, churches, crops, cotton fields and timber areas are all shown on this detailed map. But the most interesting thing about the map is: all the trees are shaded to 3 p.m. in the afternoon!
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