Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for November 30, 2023. In honor of American Indian Heritage Month, this week’s park features one of the longest-operating tribal museums in the United States. |
Museum of the Cherokee People
Location
Cherokee, Western North Carolina, United States
Claim to fame
Until recently known as the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Museum of the Cherokee People is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the United States. It was founded in 1948 to tell the story of the Cherokee people and preserve their heritage.
The museum is located on The Qualla Boundary, the land trust belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This region of western North Carolina is the ancestral home of all three bands of Cherokee, the other two bands now residing in Oklahoma.
In 1838, the US government forcibly removed approximately 17,000 Cherokee from their homes in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. The refugees were forced to march 1,200 miles in winter to reach their new home in Oklahoma. The Cherokee estimate that 6,000 people lost their lives on this journey, known as the Trail of Tears. The Museum of the Cherokee People records this history.
Reason to visit
The Museum of the Cherokee People is situated just outside the entrances to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, two of the most visited national park sites in the United States. The region’s scenery is stunning, with low, rolling mountains, lush greenery and flowering shrubs, and waterfalls around every corner.
The museum is a worthwhile addition to any trip to the area. It is run and designed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee, those who escaped removal in 1838 or managed to keep legal claim to their land. The museum explains the tragedy of the Trail of Tears, but it also highlights the unique culture and remarkable achievements of the Cherokee people, like those of Sequoyah, who in 1821 created the first written form of the Cherokee language.
Wild Fact
The Museum of the Cherokee People changed its name in October of 2023. The museum believes that the new name is more aligned with what they call themselves–a people–and is more inclusive of all three bands of Cherokee.
A new logo and redesigned exhibits will accompany the name change. The new logo features the water spider, the bringer of fire in the traditions of the Cherokee. New exhibits will convey more about the modern Cherokee, as well as be more representative of Cherokee women. The museum will remain open during the alterations, and the redesigned exhibits will launch in 2027.
Want to learn more about the Museum of the Cherokee People? Visit the museum’s website.
Thanks for reading. Each Thursday, we send out an image and description of a unique natural or cultural treasure like the one above. Learn new things, explore special places, and find your inspiration: sign up for the free newsletter today.