Families from across Northwest Georgia are invited to Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum in Rome next month for a free morning of hands-on history, activities and family learning.

Family Morning at Oak Hill will be held Wednesday, October 14, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. This year’s theme is “Martha Berry’s Famous Friends,” focusing on some of the notable people who influenced Martha Berry and supported the development of the Berry Schools.

Young visitors will be able to take part in activities inspired by well-known figures connected to Berry’s history, including Henry Ford, whose support helped advance Martha Berry’s educational mission and contributed to projects associated with the Berry Schools.

Family Morning is part of an ongoing program offered by Oak Hill several times during the year, often during school breaks. The free events are designed to introduce younger visitors to history through interactive activities rather than a traditional museum visit. Previous Family Morning programs have included scavenger hunts, art projects, STEM activities and other hands-on experiences tied to Berry’s history and campus.

Oak Hill itself is an important part of the Berry story. The Greek Revival home was built in the 1880s and became the childhood home of Martha Berry, who later lived there as an adult. The home remains preserved much as Berry left it in the 1930s. The surrounding estate also includes historic gardens and trails, the Original Cabin and other features connected to Berry’s life and work.

The Martha Berry Museum opened in 1972 on the Oak Hill estate and helps tell the story of the Berry Schools through historic artifacts, artwork and changing exhibitions. Its permanent collection includes items such as the first diploma issued by the Berry Schools, Martha Berry’s typewriter and tools used in construction of the Ford Complex.

Martha Berry began her educational work around the turn of the 20th century, teaching children from rural families near her home. That effort eventually led to the founding of the Boys Industrial School in 1902 and, over time, what became Berry College.

The October 14 Family Morning is free and open to families, with activities planned from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.