Page Updated: September 11, 2023
Museum of the Cherokee Indian
Museum of the Cherokee Indian - Cherokee NC
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian works to creates an immersive experience for visitors wishing to learn about the history and culture of the Cherokee people. Artifacts and exhibits spanning hundreds of years are displayed in a timeline that’s informative and extremely easy to follow.
During the summer months, the museum also puts on a drama in its outdoor theater addressing the Cherokee’s first contact with European settlers. The live production of Unto These Hills follows the Native American History all the way to the Trail of Tears.
I was told as a child that my paternal line included Cherokee lineage. Ancestry testing proves this wrong, but I still found the Museum of the Cherokee Indian interesting. The museum shares the history and culture of the Cherokee spanning thousands of years and is a great way to learn about the Cherokee people.
The exterior of the Museum has several worthy features to note before entering. Visitors taking the walkway from the parking lot to the entrance will note a bright blue sidewalk made to resemble a river. Here, water designs from the Mississippian Period - still in use today - decorate the path.
One of the more visible highlights to note is “Sequoyah.” The larger-than-life statue, carved from a single donated Giant Sequoia log, was dedicated in 1989 and created to honor Sequoyah - the Cherokee who invented the Cherokee Alphabet.
Inside, the journey begins in a hall of ancient Cherokee Myths. Here visitors learn the legends of Ballgame of the Birds & Animals, Spearfinger, Spirit Defenders of Nikwasi, and The People Who Became Bears.
The earliest days of the North American Paleo-Indians are addressed in the Paleolithic section of the Museum. Cases of spear point and projectile artifacts are clearly labeled, and exhibits consists of preservation cases and placards on toolmaking and hunting skills.
In the Archaic Period, visitors get a glimpse at the expanding knowledge and abilities of the Archaic Indians in regards to vegetation, fishing, as well as their creation of a wider variety of tools. Use of dioramas help to bring these early people to life.
Through the Woodland Period and into the Mississippian, the Museum educates on cultivation, the implementation of the bow & arrow, and has some amazing replicas of ceremonial-wear for visitors to admire. Examples of baskets and pottery are displayed alongside blowguns and cases of traditional weaponry.
Other exhibits on display cover trade, the creation and implementation of the Cherokee Syllabary, the struggle and conflict with the white man, and the relocation of the major Southeastern tribes to the West.
Located on Tsali Blvd close to the Cherokee Welcome Center, visitors can easily spend a couple of hours navigating the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. It’s a great stop if you’re staying in the area or just passing through and have time to spare.
-b&b
Swain County Heritage Museum
Mingo Falls Trail
