Cherokee Hills Byway
Places to Visit
-
Adams Corner Rural Village (OK)
Get a sense of how people lived in the late 1800s with a self-guided stroll through Adams Corner. The Rural Village Living Museum includes restored structures from the 1875-1890 era, before the old Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory became part of the state of Oklahoma on November 16, 1907. Also included is a small garden where Cherokee tomatoes and other heritage vegetables are grown. Adjacent to the Rural Village is a small farm where livestock is kept.
Distance from byway: 1 mi / 1.6 km Travel time: 5 minutes Directions: Look for directional signage at Jct 82/Willis Road, Tahlequah, and follow Willis Road until it turns to Keeler Road, Cherokee Heritage Center is located on the left.
-
The museum houses the permanent Trail of Tears exhibit which was done in conjunction with the National Parks Service. The exhibit explores the forced removal of the Cherokees from their southeastern homelands. It is staged in six different galleries depicting Cherokee history and culture. The museum also houses temporary exhibits and two major art shows a year. The museum store has everything from souvenirs to art, and even a genealogy center.
Distance from byway: 1 mi / 1.6 km Travel time: 5 minutes Directions: From directional signage at Jct 82/Willis Road, Tahlequah, follow Willis Road until it turns to Keeler Road, Cherokee Heritage Center is located on the left.
-
Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum (OK)
The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum includes exhibits in three areas: the Cherokee National Judicial System, the Cherokee Advocate and Phoenix newspapers, and the Cherokee language.
Location: 122 E. Keetoowah St, Tahlequah
-
Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex (OK)
The seat of tribal government is the W.W. Keeler Complex near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, capital of the Cherokee Nation. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. In the complex the visitor will find the executive and legislative branches. The Council House of today (at the Complex) can be compared to the council houses of the past. The judicial branch is located at the Cherokee Capitol Building in historic downtown Tahlequah.
Distance from byway: 1 mi / 1.6 km Travel time: 5 minutes Directions: 1/2 mile south of the 62/82 junction.
-
This 77-foot waterfall is known as “Dripping Springs” to the locals. This name was handed down by the Cherokees who inhabited this area. Indians named things by what they were and this site is no exception. From the top of the falls, it is merely a small stream but as you hike down to the bottom it is a free-flowing water fall.
Location: Hwy 412, West Siloam Springs
-
Although the ancestoral Cherokees used the Illinois River as a source of transportation and food, visitors today will have to use their imagination to envision such a site. The beautiful rock outcroppings, the lush green hills and the winding river can take them back in time, especially if the chosen mode of transportation is a canoe.
Location: Oklahoma Highway 10, continues for 15 miles northeast. Outfitters are available along this stretch of the highway.
-
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (OK)
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1970 to provide habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds and to provide food and cover for resident wildlife.
Location: Located 6.5 miles south of Vian, OK
-
Tahlonteeskee Cherokee Museum (OK)
Named for Chief Tahlonteeskee, this is the reconstructed site of the Cherokee Nation’s former capital during 1828-39, including a council house, courthouse and log cabin. It is now a museum representing the history of the Cherokees who came before the Trail of Tears. Visitors can experience the architecture of the period for the public buildings as well as the style of home they lived in. In 1839, the capital was moved to Tahlequah.
As of June 2010, the museum is closed, but there are plans to reopen the museum. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.cherokeetourismok.com.
Location: Hwy 64/10 intersection, Gore
-
Tsa La Gi Ancient Village (OK)
The Ancient Village showcases the way a traditional Cherokee community would have looked prior to European contact. The village features replicas of traditional homes and meeting houses like those used long before forced removal from the present-day southeastern US to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Cherokees will take you through the village and explain the use, history, and traditions related to each building. Visitors will learn about traditional basketry, dugout canoes, flintknapping & bowmaking.
Distance from byway: 1 mi / 1.6 km Travel time: 5 minutes Directions: From the directional signage at Jct 82/Willis Road, Tahlequah, follow Willis Road until it turns to Keeler Road, Cherokee Heritage Center is located on the left.
