by Marsha Coles

Created on: November 22, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the Cherokee Nation Capitol and is located in Eastern Oklahoma. There are a number of historical sites to visit if you find yourself in the area. Tahlequah was the place where the Cherokee’s Trail of Tears ended and a new life began, but there were a number of prominent Cherokees already settled in the area including Elias Boudinot who was brutally murdered which was assumingly connected to his role in the Removal.

The George M. Murrell home or Hunter’s Home was built in Park Hill by George Murrell and his wife Minerva Ross Murrell who was Chief John Ross’s niece. George Murrell built his new home in the style he remembered from Virginia and named it “Hunter’s Home” for his love of fox hunting. Miraculously his home survived the Civil War as Rose Cottage, John Ross’s home did not.

Today the George M. Murrell home still stands and is open to the public to tour. They have activities throughout the year including the telling of ghost stories during Halloween, a summer social, and the park and nature trail on the property holds an Easter egg hunt every Easter.

Just down the road from the Murrell home is Ross Cemetery. Buried here are many of the notable Cherokee people including Principal Chief John Ross, George M. Murrell, and Minerva Ross Murrell. This cemetery was added on the National Register of Historic Places on March 7th 2002.

The first Cherokee Female Seminary was built in 1851 and housed Cherokee girls up until 1887 when it burnt down on Easter Sunday. Ms. Florence Wilson, the head of the school made sure every girl was safely removed so there were no casualties. On this site now is the Cherokee Heritage Museum which includes Cherokee art, an ancient village with guided tours and Adam’s Corner, a typical community after the Trail of Tears including a school, church, general store and more. At the entrance to the Heritage Center are tall pillars which are all that is left of the Cherokee Female Seminary. You can visit their site at www.cherokeeheritage.org.  

The Cherokee Supreme Court Building has recently been refurbished and is now open to the public and houses the original printing press of the Cherokee Advocate. The surround sound in the court room lets you listen to a sample of a trial that was held many years ago.

There are many historical places to visit in and near Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The people are friendly and the culture is alive for all to witness. The Cherokee Nation’s Capitol is the place to visit for a history lesson during a fun vacation.

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