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 was once the main government building for the Chickasaw Nation. It served as their capitol for six years before their government officially ended in 1906. This happened just before Oklahoma became a state.
Later, the building was sold to Johnston County, Oklahoma, in 1992. They used it as their county courthouse. However, the Chickasaw Nation bought it back. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about Chickasaw history.
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Building the Capitol
After the Chickasaw people were moved to what was called the Indian Territory, they built their main town, Tishomingo. Here, they first built a simple one-room log house to serve as their capitol building.
In 1856, the Chickasaws built a new, larger capitol. It was a two-story building made of brick. This building was used until 1898. After the American Civil War and tough financial times, the 1856 building was in poor condition. So, Chickasaw leaders decided to take it down and build a brand new capitol in its place.
A New Building for a Changing Time
By 1898, important talks were happening between the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations and the U.S. Government. These talks led to the Atoka Agreement. A key part of this agreement said that the tribal governments would end on March 4, 1906.
Even though they knew their government would soon end, the Chickasaw Nation decided to build an impressive new capitol. They wanted it to be a lasting symbol of the Chickasaw people. Robert M. Harris, who was the Governor in 1896, was a big supporter of this project.
The building is designed in a style called Victorian Gothic. It is made from red granite stone found near Pennington Creek. This stone came from a quarry owned by Governor Harris himself. Mules were used to pull wagons loaded with the cut stone into town. The building is quite large, with about 8,000 square feet (740 m2) of space. It stands on wide, well-kept grounds in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
After Oklahoma Became a State
The capitol building continued to be used until November 7, 1908. On this date, Oklahoma officially became a state. The Chickasaw Nation was then told to leave the building. It stayed empty until 1910.
In 1910, the Chickasaw Nation sold the building to Johnston County, Oklahoma. The county used it as their courthouse. The building was recognized as an important historical site in 1910. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Later, the Chickasaw Nation bought the building back from Johnston County. They wanted to turn it into a museum.
The Museum Today
Today, the Chickasaw Capitol Building is a museum. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. On Saturdays, it is open from 10 AM to 4 PM. You can take guided tours Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM.
The biggest exhibit at the museum shows the history of the Chickasaw government. It covers the years from 1856 to 1907. Other interesting exhibits include a copy of Governor Douglas Johnston's office. You can also see the National Secretary's vault and a collection of portraits of Chickasaw Governors. There is also a changing photo exhibit. Just outside the building, you can see the Chickasaw National Well.
See also
