2024-11-23 Memorial Service Trip Day 2 DSC_5753 (Old Cherokee County Courthouse grounds)
Cherokee County shares the same general history of neighboring Muskogee County, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Archaic Period, circa 6,000 BC.
When the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was enforced, the Cherokee peoples were relocated from Tennessee and the surrounding states to the area around Park Hill and the newly established Cherokee Nation of Tahlequah in what became known as The Trail of Tears.
The modern Cherokee County was created from the Cherokee Nation's Tahlequah District in 1906.
The city of Tahlequah was founded in 1839 as the capital of the Cherokee Nation. By 1842, it had four stores. The first newspaper, The Cherokee Advocate, was published in 1844, the first school was taught in 1845, and a Post Office established in 1847. When Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907, it was named the count seat.
Upon statehood, the 1869 Federal Style building that was originally built to house the Cherokee National Capitol became the county courthouse. The cupola was damaged and removed in 1928, but it has since been rebuilt.
When the county offices were moved to a new building in 1979, the building was returned to the Cherokee Nation, and now serves as a museum.
2024-11-23 Memorial Service Trip Day 2 DSC_5753 (Old Cherokee County Courthouse grounds)
Cherokee County shares the same general history of neighboring Muskogee County, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Archaic Period, circa 6,000 BC.
When the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was enforced, the Cherokee peoples were relocated from Tennessee and the surrounding states to the area around Park Hill and the newly established Cherokee Nation of Tahlequah in what became known as The Trail of Tears.
The modern Cherokee County was created from the Cherokee Nation's Tahlequah District in 1906.
The city of Tahlequah was founded in 1839 as the capital of the Cherokee Nation. By 1842, it had four stores. The first newspaper, The Cherokee Advocate, was published in 1844, the first school was taught in 1845, and a Post Office established in 1847. When Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907, it was named the count seat.
Upon statehood, the 1869 Federal Style building that was originally built to house the Cherokee National Capitol became the county courthouse. The cupola was damaged and removed in 1928, but it has since been rebuilt.
When the county offices were moved to a new building in 1979, the building was returned to the Cherokee Nation, and now serves as a museum.