Cherokee National Capitol facts for kids
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Cherokee National Capitol
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Cherokee National Capitol
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 101 South Muskogee Avenue, Tahlequah, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | C.W. Goodlander |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000627 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 4, 1961 |
The Cherokee National Capitol is a very important building in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It's also known as the Cherokee Nation Courthouse today. This historic building was finished in 1869. For many years, it was the main government building for the Cherokee Nation. This lasted from 1869 until 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. Now, it's where the Cherokee Nation's highest court meets. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This shows how important it is to the Nation's history.
Contents
A Look Back at History
The Cherokee Nation first set up a government in 1820. This was when they still lived in their original lands. These lands were in the southeastern part of the United States. In the 1830s, the Cherokee people were forced to move. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. They were moved to what is now Oklahoma.
Rebuilding the Nation
After moving, the Cherokee Nation quickly rebuilt its government. This happened in 1838. They chose Tahlequah as their new capital city. The Nation set up its courts and a council. They also built schools for both boys and girls. Education was very important to the Cherokee people.
Early government meetings were sometimes held outdoors. Later, they used buildings made of logs. A courthouse was built in the 1840s. But many public buildings in Tahlequah were destroyed. This happened during the American Civil War.
Building the Capitol
The current Cherokee National Capitol was built after the war. Construction took place from 1867 to 1869. The building's style is called Italianate. This style is quite unique for Oklahoma. The architect who designed it was C. W. Goodlander.
When it was first built, the Capitol housed the Nation's court. It also had other offices. Tribal council meetings were held there too. The building served the Cherokee government until 1907. That's when Oklahoma became a state. At that time, the United States Congress ended the tribal government.
The Capitol Today
The Capitol was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Today, it is home to the judicial branch of the Cherokee Nation government. This means it's still used for important legal work.
In 2013, the Nation started a big project. They wanted to restore the building. The goal was to make it look like it did originally. This included fixing the roof with old-style shingles. They also added new doors and windows. A small tower called a cupola was put back on the roof. A new back porch was also part of the project.
What Does It Look Like?
The Cherokee Nation Courthouse is in the middle of Courthouse Square. This square is surrounded by four streets. These are East Delaware Street, South Water Avenue, East Keetoowah Street, and South Muskogee Avenue.
The building has two stories. It is made of red brick. It has white wooden trim. The style is called neoclassical Italianate. It has five sections across the front and seven sections deep. The middle three sections on each side stick out a little. Each of these sections has a triangular top part. This is called a pedimented gable. The walls have tall, narrow sections called piers. The windows on the first floor have a slightly curved top. The windows on the second floor have a rounded top. There are entrances on the east and west sides. The main entrance is on the west side. It has a brick entryway that was added later.
