On Fridays, we have bus tours conducted by the Cherokee Nation Tourism Office. Our tour guide is Joe and the bus driver is Daryl. This first tour focused on sights around Tahlequah. We started at the Cherokee National Capitol and the Cherokee Supreme Court Building, which is across the street. The Supreme Court was recently remodeled and has all new exhibits.
This is Joe at the beginning of our tour in Cherokee-themed clothing. Our tour began at the statue of Sequoyah at Centennial Plaza in front of Northeastern University.
This photo is of most of our class listening to our guide.
SUPREME COURT MUSEUM
Inside the Supreme Court Museum
Cherokee beadwork
Cherokee keyboard
The Printing Press for the Cherokee Advocate, the newspaper of the Cherokees
NEXT STOP - THE CHEROKEE HERITAGE CENTER
These three spires are from the original Cherokee Female Seminary built in 1850.
Cherokee National Museum
ANCIENT VILLAGE
The next photos are of the Ancient Village, a complete reproduction of a mid-1700s Cherokee Township as it would have been encountered by European explorers or settlers.
GEORGE MURRELL HOME
This historic mansion built in 1845 by wealthy merchant, George M. Murrell, who married the niece of Cherokee Chief John Ross, is the only antebellum mansion remaining in Oklahoma. During the Civil War, the area surrounding the Murrell Home was frequently raided by both the Union and Confederacy forces.
BACK TO THE CHEROKEE HERITAGE CENTER
We went back to the Heritage Center to see Under the Cherokee Moon, an outdoor play based on Cherokee history. This is the emcee warming up the audience and teaching us some words in Cherokee.
