The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association invites the public to a special edition of the Gems of the Past lecture series on Thursday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at the Historic Gem Theater in downtown Etowah. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and admission is free.

Acclaimed archaeologist and historian Dr. Brett H. Riggs will present "When the Revolution Came to Hiwassee Old Town", an engaging look at the impact of the American Revolution on the Cherokee people living in the Overhill towns of Southeast Tennessee. Through archaeological evidence, historical records, and Cherokee perspectives, Dr. Riggs will explore how the conflict transformed life at Hiwassee Old Town and forever altered the history of the region.

Hiwassee Old Town was located at what is now the Tennessee Tree Nursery on Highway 411 at Delano.

Dr. Riggs is one of the nation's leading scholars of Cherokee archaeology and history. For more than three decades, he has conducted extensive archaeological research throughout the Southern Appalachian region, focusing on Cherokee settlements, culture, and the early colonial period. His work has helped reshape our understanding of Cherokee history and the significance of the Overhill towns in the broader story of early America.

This special presentation is sponsored in part by TN250, Tennessee's official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The program complements the statewide effort to explore the people, places, and events that shaped Tennessee's role in America's history.

Guests attending the lecture are also encouraged to visit the Nancy Cantrell Dender Gallery connected to the theater, which will be open before the presentation. The gallery is currently hosting the Tennessee State Museum's traveling exhibit, "Our American Story: Voices From Tennessee," a TN250 exhibition that highlights the lives and contributions of remarkable Tennesseans whose stories have shaped both the state and the nation.

The Gem Theater and Nancy Cantrell Dender Gallery are located in downtown Etowah. The lecture is free and open to the public, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association at 423 263-7232 or visit www.tennesseeoverhill.com.