Chickasaw Nation Capitols facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chickasaw Nation Capitols
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Chickasaw Nation Capitol building
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Capitol Ave. between 8th and 9th Sts., Tishomingo, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000663 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1971 |
The historic Chickasaw Nation Capitols are important buildings located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. This special place includes the Chickasaw Council House Museum and the Chickasaw Nation Capitol building. Both tell the story of the Chickasaw people. The Capitol building has been recognized as a historic site since November 5, 1971.
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Discover the Chickasaw Story
The Chickasaw Council House Museum is a great place to learn about the Chickasaw Tribe. It shows how they lived and how they were forced to move from their original lands in Mississippi. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. The museum also explains how they settled in Oklahoma.
You can visit the museum in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, for free. They offer daily tours! Inside, you'll find many old Chickasaw items. There's also a place to research family history. A small, one-room log building, built in 1853, is part of the museum. It's called the Council House. You can also visit the historic Chickasaw Nation Capitol building right next door.
A Nation's Journey: Chickasaw History
After the Trail of Tears, the Chickasaw people settled on land belonging to the Choctaw in what was called the Indian Territory. This area is now part of Oklahoma. In 1856, the Chickasaw Nation became independent. They signed a treaty in Washington, D.C. This treaty gave them full ownership of a huge amount of land. It also gave them the right to govern themselves.
The Chickasaw Nation created a government similar to the United States. They changed from a tribal council to a system with three parts: a law-making group, a leader, and courts. They wrote their first constitution in 1848. Then, in 1857, they elected their first leaders. Tishomingo became the capital city at this time. It was named after a brave Chickasaw warrior, Chief Tishomingo. He sadly passed away on the journey to Oklahoma.
The First Government Building: Council House
The Council House is a small log building, about 14 by 24 feet. It was first built at a place called Good Spring. A tree trunk was once attached to its outside wall. This trunk was used as a whipping post for punishments. This log building was where government meetings were held. It served this purpose until a larger brick Capitol building was built in 1858.
Later, the Council House was moved. Cyrus Harris, who was the first Chickasaw tribal governor, used it as a smokehouse. The brick Capitol building was later destroyed by a fire. In 1898, a new, much larger granite building was constructed. This new building also served as the Johnston County Courthouse. In the 1930s, the old Council House was placed next to the new Capitol building. In the 1960s, it was fixed up and covered by a new building that became the Museum.
The Grand Capitol Building
The red granite building you see today was the third Capitol building for the Chickasaw Nation. Before it, there was the 1853 log Council House. Then came the 1858 brick building, which burned down. This current building was finished in 1898. It cost about $15,000 at the time. It was built in a style called Victorian Gothic. The granite used came from a nearby quarry that the tribe owned.
This building was the center of the Chickasaw government. It served this role until Oklahoma became a state. The Capitol building has three stories. It has a grand arched doorway on its south side. A dome sits proudly on top. In 1908, the building was sold to Johnston County for $7,500. It was then used as the county courthouse.
In 1989, the Chickasaw Nation bought the Capitol back from Johnston County. Today, the first two floors of the building have exhibits. These exhibits help preserve the history of the early Chickasaw tribal government. A Chickasaw artist named Tom Phillips even featured the Capitol building in a painting in 1998.
