Murrell Home facts for kids
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Hunter's Home
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Hunter's Home
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 Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Park Hill, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1844–45 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000530 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The Hunter's Home is a special place in Park Hill, Oklahoma. It's a historic house museum, which means it's an old house kept to show people how life used to be. You can find it near Tahlequah, in the Cherokee Nation.
This house was built way back in 1845. It's one of the very few buildings from that time that still stands in Cherokee lands. This period was between the sad event of the Trail of Tears (when the Cherokee people were forced to move) and the American Civil War. Hunter's Home was a very important social spot for the leading Cherokee families in the mid-1800s. The state of Oklahoma has owned it since 1948. In 1974, it was named a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its importance to the country.
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Discovering Hunter's Home History
Who Built Hunter's Home?
A wealthy man named George Michael Murrell built this grand house. He was a businessman and farmer. George Murrell married Minerva Ross, who was the niece of a very important Cherokee leader, John Ross.
George Murrell loved to hunt foxes, so he named his home "Hunter's Home." The Murrell family moved to what was then called Indian Territory around 1839. This was about the same time as the Trail of Tears.
Life at the Murrell Home
The Murrells filled their home with the newest and most stylish furniture and decorations of the time. They also had many people who were forced to work for them. These 42 enslaved people lived in nine cabins on the large property.
Hunter's Home During the Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a very difficult time. The area around Hunter's Home saw many attacks from both sides of the war. Even though there was a lot of fighting, the house was not destroyed. It was the only building in the area to survive the conflict.
Later Years and Restoration
Years later, a Cherokee woman named Jennie Ross Cobb lived in Hunter's Home. She was born in 1881 and became one of the first Native American photographers. Jennie Ross Cobb helped to restore the house, making sure it looked like it did in the past.
Hunter's Home Today
The state of Oklahoma bought the building in 1948. Today, the Oklahoma Historical Society manages it as a historic house museum. Inside, you can see furniture and items from the 1830s to the 1860s, some of which belonged to the Murrell family.
There's also a log cabin on the property called the Daniel Cabin. Here, you can see demonstrations of what Cherokee life was like in the 1850s. In 2018, the house's official name was changed from Murrell Home to Hunter's Home.
See also
