IT’S GOOD TO SEE a native Roman taking over as executive director of the Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home. It means that Heather Shores, like most those of local origin, has always appreciated both what it represents and knows of its long-unmet potential.

Coming up with funding will be hardest part, of course, just as it is with most local grand ideas, but the existing plan is to restore the “main house” to its original 1828 appearance (much of the original is actually inside what now appears to be an old Southern mansion) and build a new interpretative center on the property at the edge of Ridge Ferry Park. Shores is an expert on the Cherokee removal and has taught the subject at the college level.

Now an official part of the national Trail of Tears — actually where it starts — makes it all the more important to really make Chieftains a must-see for visitors.

And, should the recently discovered two-story log cabin of apparent Cherokee origin in Cave Spring be preserved/restored, that would give Greater Rome a real doubleheader tourist attraction. Tripleheader, remembering the Martha Berry Museum is just around the highway corner from Chieftains.