Rome Area Heritage Foundation

Rome Area Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, the Rome Area Heritage Foundation was established to help identify and preserve historic sites and artifacts in the Rome-Floyd County area.

Founded in 1973, the Rome Area Heritage Foundation (RAHF) provides advocacy and education to protect, celebrate, and promote stewardship of Rome’s diverse cultural heritage and historic places. The volunteer-based non-profit organization remains closely affiliated with governmental agencies and other non-profit groups involved with the planning, implementation and preservation of local heritage and resources.

The late Pierce Harris stands proudly at the helm of his handiwork — the c. 1932 Myra H, believed to be Rome's only surv...
06/07/2026

The late Pierce Harris stands proudly at the helm of his handiwork — the c. 1932 Myra H, believed to be Rome's only surviving paddle-wheel riverboat from that era — now on display at the Rome-Floyd ECO Center. ⛴️ 🛶

Haven't RSVP'd for the Annual RAHF Membership Event this afternoon? Don't worry — we have space, plenty of food from The Varsity, and extra room to celebrate the winners of our 2026 Preservation Awards!

Come dressed in red, white, and blue, and let's have some fun exploring one of our area's many historic treasures! 🇺🇸

[📸: Harris Family / Rome News-Tribune]

Georgia's Rome City of Rome, GA

DID YOU KNOW? 🤔 After its completion in 1893, Rome's Oostanaula freshwater pump station pushed 2 MILLION GALLONS of wate...
06/05/2026

DID YOU KNOW? 🤔 After its completion in 1893, Rome's Oostanaula freshwater pump station pushed 2 MILLION GALLONS of water PER DAY to the waterworks on top of Jackson Hill! 🚿💧🔧

Catch a glimpse of the original mechanics THIS SUNDAY at our Annual RAHF Membership Event at what is now the beautifully renovated Rome-Floyd ECO Center!

👉 RSVP: The event is FREE for all current and renewing RAHF members. RSVP to [email protected].

More about the facility's history: https://bit.ly/4xbPOs1

Georgia's Rome City of Rome, GA

06/01/2026

SWIFT & FINCH COFFEE 🎨 🖌️ ✨

The midcentury-style building that now houses Swift & Finch Coffee is another example of adaptive reuse in Rome. Originally a Texaco service station built in the late 1940s, the building was later expanded and occupied by Clyde Collier Photography before becoming Swift & Finch in 2012.

If you enter the coffee shop through the East 6th Avenue entrance and look up to your right, you can see a bit of the building’s original exterior. 📚🏛️📚

Monday, June 1, is your last chance to experience the ARCHITECTURE OF ROME Student Art Show — graciously hosted by our friends at Swift & Finch!

Chiaha Arts Guild Rome Area History Center Downtown Rome, GA

05/30/2026

OPERA ALLEY 🎨 🖌️ ✨

The Nevin Opera House was built by M.A. Nevin and opened in September 1880. Opera Alley allowed performers and stagehands to enter without passing through public areas, until the structure was totally destroyed by fire on Dec. 31, 1919.

The commemorative arch which remains today is a popular downtown landmark. 📚🏛️📚

The ARCHITECTURE OF ROME Student Art Show is in its final days — through this Monday, June 1!

Chiaha Arts Guild Rome Area History Center Downtown Rome, GA

05/29/2026

THE MASONIC TEMPLE 🎨 🖌️ ✨

The stunning Second Empire-style Masonic Temple, built in 1877, is actually the second to occupy this site. The original was burned by Union soldiers in 1864. Remarkably, Union soldiers who were also Masons realized their mistake and sent a large contribution to Rome for rebuilding.

Masons occupied the building until 2006, when the building was adapted for offices and retail. 📚🏛️📚

The ARCHITECTURE OF ROME Student Art Show is in its final days — through Monday, June 1!

Chiaha Arts Guild Rome Area History Center Downtown Rome, GA

Need something to do now that school's out?The 12 historic sites featured in the Architecture of Rome Art Show are all w...
05/29/2026

Need something to do now that school's out?

The 12 historic sites featured in the Architecture of Rome Art Show are all within walking distance of each other, and we created a FREE walking tour brochure so you can explore them yourself.

Inside you’ll find:
🎨 artwork from the exhibit
📖 stories behind each historic site
📍 a walking map of the route

Pick up a copy at Swift & Finch Coffee or Cecil T's Mercantile, or view it online at chiaha.org.

Which site is your favorite to visit in Downtown Rome, GA?

📷 Shown here is Ezra, whose artwork is featured on the brochure cover.

P.S. Special thanks to our friends at Fast Printing & Signs!

Georgia's Rome

05/28/2026

THE GORDON THEATRE 🎨 🖌️ ✨

The Gordon Theatre was built in 1933 — one of four prominent downtown theaters during Rome's golden age of cinema. In 1962, the building became the Partridge Restaurant, which later closed in 2017.

The sphere that sits atop the building once adorned Rome’s First Avenue Theatre, which no longer exists. The Gordon originally had a different spire; its whereabouts are unknown. 📚🏛️📚

The ARCHITECTURE OF ROME Student Art Show is in its final week — through June 1!

Chiaha Arts Guild Rome Area History Center Downtown Rome, GA

05/27/2026

ROME CITY AUDITORIUM 🎨 🖌️ ✨

The Rome City Auditorium opened in 1916 and remains in use today. This Classical Revival building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and is home to our City Hall, as well as the Rome Symphony Orchestra — the oldest continuously operating symphony in the Southeast. 📚🏛️📚

The ARCHITECTURE OF ROME Student Art Show continues through Monday, June 1!

Chiaha Arts Guild Rome Area History Center Downtown Rome, GA City of Rome, GA - Government

At our Architecture of Rome exhibit at Swift & Finch Coffee, in addition to the students' artwork, is a special collecti...
05/26/2026

At our Architecture of Rome exhibit at Swift & Finch Coffee, in addition to the students' artwork, is a special collection of works by local artists honoring the Historic Floyd County Courthouse. To create art is to bear witness and say this place matters, this moment matters. The following artists have done just that, and we're honored to display their work:

Andrew Rayn Photography
Ryan Smith Studios
Siri Helene Selle
Mandi Wiggins Blalock
Judith Johnson Frasure
Vickie Hill
Cheryl Riner Hodge Fine Art
Jack Webb (courtesy of Kathy O'Mara)

The exhibit is presented by Rome Area Heritage Foundation and Chiaha Arts Guild. It's free and open to the public through June 1 at Swift & Finch.

Downtown Rome, GA Floyd County, GA - Government

Address

Rome, GA
30161

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rome Area Heritage Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Rome Area Heritage Foundation:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category