1. Cherokee Heritage Center
City: Park Hill, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (888) 999-6007
Address: 21192 S. Keeler Dr.
Description: The Cherokee Heritage Center offers a broad-brush picture of Cherokee history from early days in their eastern homes through the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. The Ancient Village, Tsa-La-Gi, is a living-history village depicting Cherokee life before European contact. Interpreters demonstrate basket making, pottery, stickball, bow and arrow making, and canoe building. During the summer, activity is at its height with the largest number of interpreters on site.Another area of the grounds, Adams Corner, illustrates life in a late-1800s village. The buildings here include restored structures dating between 1875 and 1890 and have been brought here from a variety of locations in Indian Territory.Inside the main building is a museum, gift shop, and small snack bar. The premier exhibit in the museum deals with the Trail of Tears. The displays tell the stories of pre-removal days and the first treacherous treaties, the vicious treatment of the Indians by many of the soldiers, and recorded stories from the removals of other tribes.One of the most moving areas of the exhibition is the display of life-size figures on the trail. Across one side of the room is a large tapestry of 16,000 black, white, and red beads representing the Cherokees who were driven to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Twelve-thousand white beads represent those who survived the trip. The black beads represent a conservative estimate of those who died, and the red beads represent the 2,000 additional victims as estimated by Elijah Butler, the physician for the first detachment on the trail.Visitors in June, July, and the first half of Aug have the opportunity to see the presentation Under the Cherokee Moon on Friday and Saturday evenings. There’s also an optional dinner preceding the show. Tickets to these events are not included in the general admission price.
2. Murrell House “Hunter’S Home”
City: Park Hill, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (918) 456-2751
Address: 19479 Murrell Home Rd.
Description: The Murrell home comes as a real eye-opener to many visitors. It brings home the point that many of the Cherokees who were pushed out of their eastern homes were educated, well-to-do citizens. Built about 1845, “Hunter’s Home,” named for owner George Murrell’s love of foxhunting, is Oklahoma ’s only remaining antebellum mansion. The Greek Revival–style, three-story mansion is furnished with pieces from the period. As in the broader society, the Murrells, while not unusual, were not typical. For a look at a typical Cherokee house of the period, visit the log cabin on the property.Mar through Oct, the house is open Tues through Sun. Nov through Feb, it is open Wed through Sun. Be sure and call ahead or check the Web site to make sure this information is up to date.