Chickasaw Capitol Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chickasaw National Capitol Building
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| Location | Tishomingo, Johnston County, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000663 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1971 |
The Chickasaw Capitol Building is a very important historical place. It was once the main building for the government of the Chickasaw Nation. This was before Oklahoma became a state. The Chickasaw government used this building for its last six years. Their government officially ended on March 4, 1906. This was just over a year before the areas called Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory joined together. They formed the state of Oklahoma we know today.
Later, in 1992, the building was sold to Johnston County, Oklahoma. The county used it as their courthouse. However, the Chickasaw Nation bought the building back. Now, it is a museum where people can learn about Chickasaw history.
Contents
Building the Chickasaw Capitol
After the Chickasaw people were forced to move to Indian Territory, they built their main town. This town was named Tishomingo. At first, they had a simple one-room log cabin. This cabin served as their first capitol building.
From Log Cabin to Brick Building
In 1856, the Chickasaw Nation built a new capitol. It was a two-story building made of brick. This brick building was their government center until 1898. However, after the Civil War, times were tough. The 1856 building became very old and worn out. So, Chickasaw leaders decided to take it down. They planned to build a brand new capitol in the same spot.
A New Capitol Before Statehood
By 1898, important talks were happening. The Chickasaw, Choctaw, and U.S. Government were discussing the Atoka Agreement. A big part of this agreement said that tribal governments would end. This was set to happen on March 4, 1906. Even though the leaders knew their government would soon end, they still wanted a grand new building. They saw it as a lasting memory of the Chickasaw people.
Building Design and Materials
Robert M. Harris was elected Governor in 1896. Many people say he was the main person who pushed for the new building. The capitol is built in a style called Victorian Gothic. It uses red granite stone from Pennington Creek. This stone came from a quarry owned by Governor Harris. Workers cut the stone and hauled it to town using wagons pulled by mules.
The building is quite large, with about 8,000 square feet of space. It stands on big, well-kept grounds in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
The Capitol After Oklahoma Became a State
The Chickasaw Capitol Building continued to be used until November 7, 1908. On that day, Oklahoma officially became a state. The Chickasaw Nation was told to leave the building. It stayed empty for two years.
From Courthouse to Museum
In 1910, the Chickasaw Nation sold the building. Johnston County, Oklahoma bought it to use as their courthouse. The building was recognized as a special historical place in 1910. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Later, the Chickasaw Nation bought it back from Johnston County. They wanted to turn it into a museum.
Visiting the Museum
Today, the Chickasaw Capitol Building is a museum. It is open from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. On Saturdays, it is open from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can take a tour from Tuesday to Friday, between 10 AM and 4:30 PM.
What You Can See at the Museum
The biggest display at the museum shows the history of the Chickasaw government. This covers the years from 1856 to 1907. Other interesting exhibits include a copy of Governor Douglas Johnston's office. There is also the National Secretary's vault. You can see a collection of portraits of Chickasaw Governors. The museum also has changing photography exhibits. Just outside the building, you can find the Chickasaw National Well.
See also
