Near Birchwood in Meigs County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Cherokee Syllabary

Photographed by Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011

1. Cherokee Syllabary Marker

Inscription. By the beginning of the 19th century, many Cherokee had adopted many white ways of living. They built American type farms, wore American style clothes, developed American style systems of government and began buying African slaves to work on plantations. Missionaries who settled in the Cherokee Nation in 1803 promoted Christianity. For many, these adaptations were intended to prove to the white community that the Cherokee would be compatible neighbors who shared ways of living and believing.

One of the most remarkable developments was the creation of a written language. In 1809, Sequoyah (known in English as George Gist), began thinking about the way whites communicated with each other by writing. He soon began work on a method of writing the Cherokee language. In 1821, he completed his syllabary and submitted it to the leading men of the Nation. Thousands learned the syllabary within months. Missionaries translated the Bible into Cherokee in 1825. In 1828, the Nation began publishing a bilingual newspaper the Cherokee Phoenix.

"Never before, or since, in the history of the world has one man, not literate in any language, perfected a system for reading and writing language."

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Trail of Tears series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1803.

Location. 35° 24.423′ N, 85° 0.383′ W. Marker is near Birchwood, Tennessee, in Meigs County. It can be reached from Blythe Ferry Road 2 miles north of Hiwassee Highway (Tennessee Highway 60), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birchwood TN 37308, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Sequoyah, or George Gist image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011

2. Sequoyah, or George Gist

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: General Winfield Scott (here, next to this marker); "Orders No. 25" (here, next to this marker); "To Learn and not Forget" (here, next to this marker); "Your Fate is Decided" (here, next to this marker); "Chains of Friendship" (here, next to this marker); "Given by the Great Spirit above" (here, next to this marker); "A Desire to Possess" (here, next to this marker); "Not a treaty at all" (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birchwood.

Sequoyah The Cherokee Cadmus image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G. A. W.

3. Sequoyah The Cherokee Cadmus

This illustration, “Sequoyah The Cherokee Cadmus” signed by G.A.W. appeared in Kate Dickinson Sweetser's 1913 Book of Indian Braves. (Internet Archive)

Photographed by Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011

4. Cherokee Syllabary Marker

On the right in this view.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 811 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on April 8, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. 3. submitted on November 14, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.