A volunteer will give you a primer upon arrival and let you know that the gallows outside aren’t original. You’ll learn about the history of the prison, escape attempts and successes, and why the prison was here in the first place despite the Cherokee’s own beliefs around laws and justice. I suggest saving this one for last because they talk about outlaws (or patriots?) like Proctor that you learn about at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum. During our visit, we saw a series of large outdoor art pieces from Cherokee artist Traci Rabbit. Note: I generally hate when blogs give broad advice like “explore downtown” without additional guidance, but I will note here that the Tahlequah Main Street Association has been working hard to revialize the downtown area.Īt the very least, don’t miss out on any of the public art.

You’ll be in downtown Tahlequah for much of what I’ll describe here, so feel free to linger where you see fit. On our own trip, we started with downtown Tahlequah’s trio of free museums dedicated to telling the story of the Cherokee Nation and important events from the town’s history. That history and resilience got it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. While it burned down in 1887, it was reconstructed by 1889. Stops include Sequoyah Park and Seminary Hall on the Northeastern State University campus.įun fact: Seminary Hall was the first higher learning institution for women west of the Mississippi.

The trail features 26 stops, including historic buildings, statues, and landmarks. You can work your way through the Tahlequah History Trail, a walking tour that takes visitors through the historic downtown Tahlequah area. There is quite a bit to do in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, but the most impressive Tahlequah attractions are related to the town’s Cherokee roots.

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