History of the Cherokee National Capitol Square

History of the Cherokee National Capitol Square. . , In 1839, after the forced removal from their homeland in the southeastern United States, the Cherokee people began to settle on their new land in Indian Territory. A few years later, the tribe decided that Tahlequah would become the capitol city of the Cherokee Nation. , The first gatherings of the chief and council were held in an open air unit, a log shelter with open sides. Eventually, four log cabins were built in the center of the town for governmental purposes. In 1843, the famous International Indian Council was held in capitol square. At least eighteen Indian tribes in the West sent representatives and pledged peace and friendship among themselves and with the Cherokees. Historians say the meeting was the most important Indian council ever held on the North American continent. It was captured on canvas by artist John Mix Stanley, whose painting is located at the Smithsonian Institution. , For several years Tahlequah was a mere campground with no structure until 1844, when the tribe platted the town. That same year a modest brick building was built in the southeastern corner of the square to house the Cherokee National Supreme Court. This structure was built by James S. Pierce. The bricks were made near the site, and much of their interior wood came from area trees. The Cherokee Advocate declared it “the finest building west of Little Rock.” The Supreme and District courts both held sessions here for some time. The building also housed the printing press of the Cherokee Advocate, the official publication of the Cherokee Nation and the newspaper in Indian Territory. , In 1863, during the Civil War, Confederate Brigadier General Stand Watie, a Cherokee citizen who was one of the signers of the Treaty of New Echota, burned the Council houses down. After the war, the tribal council made provisions for a new building. Architect C.W. Goodlander was paid $31.30 for his plans for a two-story brick structure, known as the Capitol Building. It was completed in 1869 at a cost of over $17,000. The building was quite a sight as it rose above the center of Capitol Square, towering over nearby buildings. , In 1875, another new official building joined the Square when the Cherokee National Penitentiary was built. The prison was the only such facility in the entire Indian Territory from 1875 to 1901. It was created for the purpose of rehabilitation as well as to punish offenders. It housed both sentenced and accused prisoners from throughout the vast territory. , Scattered around the Square at various times were taverns, cabins, hotels, cookhouses, blacksmiths and mercantile stores. At first, wooden buildings were built around the Square, but this changed after a devastating fire in 1895 destroyed many stores and homes. An ordinance was passed after that stating all new buildings should be made of brick. , A fire destroyed the interior of the building in the winter of 1904, but it was quickly refurbished. The Capitol held the executive and legislative offices of the Nation until 1906, when the Five Civilized Tribes began dismantling their tribal judicial system in accordance with the Curtis Act of 1898. The final treaties with the U.S. Government in the late 1800's were ratified in the Capitol Building, and the last of the principal chiefs to serve under the 1839 Cherokee Constitution took oath of office here. , The Capitol Building was once damaged by fire in 1928 but was rebuilt shortly after. The original building had a cupola on the roof that was said to have been used for office space and a jury room; however, the iconic cupola was lost. Other exterior changes to the building included the removal of cut sandstone steps at the rear of the building and the removal of chimneys when dormers were added in 1907. , Cherokee County acquired the Capitol Building and grounds after statehood and used the property for county offices for many years. The building has gone through several refurbishing's and was reacquired by the Cherokee Nation in 1979, along with the Supreme Court Building and the National Penitentiary. Currently the building is known as the Cherokee National History Museum that tells the Cherokee story through immersive exhibits and augmented reality.