Hickory Ground facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hickory Ground
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Wetumpka, Alabama |
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| Area | 33.1 acres (13.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000685 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1980 |
Hickory Ground, also known as Otciapofa, is a very old and important place for the Muscogee Creek people. It is located in Elmore County, Alabama, close to Wetumpka. In the Muscogee language, its name is Oce Vpofa, which means "among the hickory trees."
This site is famous because it was the last capital, or main meeting place, for the National Council of the Creek Nation. This was before the Creek people were forced to move to a new area called the Indian Territory in the 1830s. Hickory Ground was officially recognized as a historic place on March 10, 1980.
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What is an Archaeological Site?
An archaeological site is a place where scientists called archaeologists study human history. They dig up old objects and structures to learn about how people lived long ago. The Hickory Ground site covers about 33 acres. It is located near Wetumpka, where the Coosa River meets the Tallapoosa River.
This site was once a busy village. It has a special ceremonial ground for traditional dances and events. There are also burial grounds and places where people threw away their trash, which helps archaeologists learn about their daily lives.
A Look Back at Hickory Ground's History
Hickory Ground, or Otciapofa, was created by Muscogee Creeks who came from another town called Little Tulsa. This town was also on the Coosa River. Important explorers like William Bartram in the 1770s and Benjamin Hawkins in 1799 wrote about Hickory Ground.
Thousands of Muscogee people lived here. From 1802 to 1814, it served as the capital for the Creek Nation's government. During the Creek War, people who were not fighting had to stay at a nearby place called Fort Jackson.
After the war ended, the Muscogee people were allowed to return to Hickory Ground. They lived there until 1832. At that time, they were sadly forced to leave their homes and move to the Indian Territory. This event is known as the forced removal.
Discovering the Past
The Hickory Ground site was found again in 1968 by an archaeologist named David Chase. For a while, its rediscovery was kept quiet. But later, when there were plans to build apartments on the site, the public learned about it.
The Alabama Historical Commission and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians worked hard to protect the site. In 1980, they were able to buy the land. This was made possible with help from the United States Department of the Interior.
Archaeologists did more digging in 1988 and 1991. They found proof that people had lived at Hickory Ground for a very long time. They found items from five different time periods, going all the way back to the Early Archaic period (8000–6000 B.C.). This shows that the area has been important to people for thousands of years.
Hickory Ground After the Removal
The people of Otciapofa tribal town were part of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy in Alabama. After being forced to move, they settled in the Indian Territory. There, they built a new town and also called it Hickory Ground. This new town was near Henryetta, Oklahoma.
A famous leader named Chitto Harjo belonged to this new Hickory Ground. It was also the place where the Crazy Snake Rebellion started in 1901. This was an important event where some Creek people tried to resist changes to their way of life.
