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Old Cherokee Capitol Building


category : Ethnic Heritage
Old Cherokee Capitol Building The Cherokee Council first met in 1839 under a large open shed in this area, then later in log buildings. During the Civil War, these were burned down by Cherokee General Stand Watie and his Confederate troops. After the war, the Council made provisions for a new building, and it was finished and occupied by 1870. The building was damaged by fire in 1928, and the interior was completely remodeled. Except for a few features, such as a cupola on the roof, and a vestibule at the front entrance, the exterior remains the same. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After statehood in 1907, the building served as Cherokee County Courthouse until 1979, when it was returned to the Cherokee Nation where is houses the court system and election board. A tour of the new capital complex, located south of town (built in May, 1978) will give insight into what the tribe is doing today.


Hours: Tours may be requested at the receptionist's desk, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.
Address: 101 South Muskogee Avenue, Downtown
Across the street from the Square stands the Cherokee Supreme Court Building built in 1845. It is the oldest government building in the state of Oklahoma and is in the process of restoration.

Come visit us in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Self-Guided Tour of Historic Tahlequah

History is one of Tahlequah's most valuable resources, much of it in the history of the Cherokee Nation ... to a Civil War cabin ... to homes of townspeople at the turn of the century.

Tahlequah, OK Tours

Cherokee Heritage Center

The Cherokee Heritage Center, operated by the Cherokee National Historical Society, is located three miles south of Tahlequah, on the original site of the Cherokee Female Seminary. This remote area, covered with dense underbrush, was cleared in the mid-1960

Tahlequah, OK Museums

Old Cherokee Capitol Building

The Cherokee Council first met in 1839

Tahlequah, OK Ethnic Heritage

Tsa-La-Gi Outdoor Theater

Also located on the grounds of the Cherokee Heritage Center is the Tsa-La-Gi Theater, a 1,200

Tahlequah, OK Theatres

Seminary Hall at Northeastern State University

This four-year regional university has a long and colorful heritage which began in 1846 when the Cherokee National Council authorized establishment of the National Male Seminary and National Female Seminary.

Tahlequah, OK Historic Buildings

Things to do Ethnic Heritage near Tahlequah, OK