Choctaw Capitol Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tuskahoma
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| Location | 163655 N. 4355 Rd., Tuskahoma, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000537 |
| Added to NRHP | 1970 |
The Choctaw Capitol Building (called Chuka Hanta Chahta in the Choctaw language) is a very important historic building. It is also known as Tuskahoma. This building was finished in 1884. It served as the main government center for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma from 1884 to 1907. The Capitol is located in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. It stands about two miles north of the small community of Tuskahoma.
Contents
History of the Choctaw Capitol
Early Days and Location
Before the Capitol was built, a United States Post Office operated nearby. This was in a place called Council House, Indian Territory. This post office was open from 1872 to 1880. Later, postal services moved to other nearby places like Lyceum and Tuskahoma. During the time of the Indian Territory, the Council House was in Wade County, Choctaw Nation.
Building a Permanent Home
For many years, the Choctaw Indians moved their capital to different places. In 1883, the Choctaw National Council decided to build a permanent government center. They chose a place called Tushka Homma. This name means "home of the red warrior" in the Choctaw language. Today, its spelling is usually Tuskahoma.
Construction and Design
The Capitol building was finished in September 1884. It was built using red bricks, sandstone, and timber from the local area. The cost to build it was $30,000. The building is about 73 feet long and 62 feet wide. It stands over 54 feet tall to its chimneys. It has two main floors and an attic with a special mansard roof. In 1884, a newspaper called the Indian Journal said it was "the finest structure in the Territory."
Inside the Capitol, there were many important rooms. These included rooms for the Senate and the House of Representatives. There were also offices for the Principal Chief and the Supreme Court. Other important officials, like the National Attorney, also had offices there.
End of an Era
The Capitol was used from 1884 until 1907. In 1907, the Choctaw Nation government was changed. This happened when Oklahoma became a state. After this, the building was not used as a government center anymore. It started to fall apart. A person named Jane Austin McCurtain was put in charge of looking after the Council House. She cared for it until she passed away in 1924.
The Capitol Today
A Living Museum
Today, the Choctaw Capitol Building has a new purpose. It is now the national museum for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The main offices of the Choctaw Nation are now in Durant, Oklahoma. The Capitol building helps people learn about the rich history of the Choctaw people.
Annual Festival and Memorials
The Choctaw Nation holds its big annual Labor Day festival at the Capitol grounds. This festival is very popular. It brings in famous country-western singers and bands. More than 100,000 people attend this event each year.
There is also a special memorial on the Capitol grounds. It honors Choctaw war veterans. A part of this memorial pays tribute to the famous Choctaw Code Talkers. These brave Choctaw soldiers used their Native American language as a secret military code. They first did this during World War I. Other tribes also used similar codes in World War II.
In May 2017, the tribe also put up a Ten Commandments monument. This monument has the Ten Commandments written in both the Choctaw language and English.
Historic Recognition
The Choctaw Capitol Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. This means it is recognized as an important historic site. You can find more information about the Capitol and the Choctaw Nation at the Pushmataha County Historical Society.
