The Old School History Museum hosted the latest installment of its “Sunday at the Museum” lecture series on May 3 at The Plaza Arts Center, where guest speaker Arch Smith presented “Rock Eagle: The Evolution of the Land and Her People.”
OSHM Director Sandra Rosseter and OSHM member Lyn Romine introduced Smith, a longtime leader in Georgia 4-H who spent much of his career based at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
Smith has held numerous leadership roles throughout his career, including Rock Eagle 4-H Center coordinator, Georgia 4-H Foundation executive director, and the eighth state 4-H leader in University of Georgia program history.
Through his presentation, Smith traced the history of Rock Eagle and the surrounding area, describing Native American civilizations, European exploration, land treaties, and agricultural development in Georgia. He also discussed early archaeological research conducted on the Rock Eagle Effigy Mound by the Smithsonian Institution and later by the University of Georgia.
Smith then connected that history to the rise of agricultural education, land-grant universities, and the eventual creation of 4-H camps and programs.
Throughout the presentation, he emphasized that Rock Eagle was a centerpiece of Georgia 4-H and a lasting example of how community, collaboration, and education can shape generations for the better.
“We develop children and give them opportunities that change their lives. We help them become people they didn’t realize they could become,” Smith told a sizable crowd gathered in The Plaza’s main theater space.
Following the lecture, guests mingled and enjoyed refreshments inside the Old School History Museum, located within The Plaza.
Smith’s lecture underscored OSHM’s mission of “preserving the past for the future” by examining the history of the Rock Eagle mound, an important local symbol.
OSHM frequently posts updates on its Facebook page and official website, Old School History Museum, including announcements about future presentations and events.