To tour the Thompson House is to step back into early Tahlequah history.
The Thomspon House belonged to Dr. Joseph Thompson, a prominent Cherokee physician. The home was built in 1882 and is a wonderful example of Queen Anne Carpenter Gothic architecture with Eastlake style interior woodwork.
Dr. Thompson was very involved in the activities of early-day Tahlequah and held several positions with the Cherokee Nation. Mrs. Thompson was a skilled weaver and her loom room has been restored. The Thompson family lived in the home until the 1930s.
Today the house has been completely restored and is listed on the National Register of historic places. All of the rooms are beautifully decorated and furnished with period furniture. Arrangements for guided tours can be made. For tour arrangements, please call 918.456.1595.
The Murrell Home, also known as Hunter's Home, is in Park Hill, Oklahoma, three miles south of Tahlequah. George Murrell built this home in the new Cherokee Nation about 1845. Murrell was a native Virginian who married Minerva Ross, niece of Chief John Ross and part of the wealthy Cherokee/Scottish family.
This home stands as a reminder of the high lifestyle practiced by a few in the Cherokee Nation before the Civil War. The home contains original and period artifacts and furnishings.
The Murrell Home is the setting for several events throughout the year, including ghost stories in October, the 1800s Lawn Social in June, the Victorian Open House and more. The Murrell Home is on the National Register of Historic Places. Information: 918.456.2751.
The Cherokee Heritage Center strives to preserve and promote Cherokee history and culture. Located on 44 wooded acres, the Cherokee Heritage Center lies tucked away in the Oklahoma foothills of the Ozarks. Constructed of native stone concrete, the museum's unique design elegantly incorporates the three remaining pillars of the Cherokee National Female Seminary, the first institute of higher learning for women west of the Mississippi.
The museum is comprised of the permanent Trail of Tears exhibit, rotating exhibits, Adams Corner Rural Village and the Ancient Village. The Cherokee Heritage Center is open seven days a week February through December.
Information: 918.456.6007
The Illinois River is a designated scenic river and its cool, clear water is great for swimming, floating and fishing. The Illinois River offers visitors a splendid opportunity for fun, adventure and breathtaking beauty. The Illinois is a Class II river, which means that it has rapids of moderate difficulty with clear passages. Canoes, kayaks and rafts are available from float operators along the river. Many people also enjoy fishing the river for if more than 70 species of sport fish.
The Cherokees who came over the Trail of Tears in 1839 founded Tahlequah as the national capital. In 1843 the Cherokee National Council designated the 160 acres surrounding their capitol site as the township of Tahlequah and had it surveyed. The Original Townsite Historic District, lying west of the city's downtown, was the residential section of that first 160 acre townsite.
The Tourism Council of the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce has developed a walking/driving tour that encompasses much of the original townsite. Visit the chamber and tourism council at 123 E. Delaware Street in Tahlequah, or call 918.456.3742.
Tahlequah's history trail winds its way through Tahlequah alongside town branch creek and much of the city park system. Currently, phase one of the trail is complete, and will take you from the NSU campus through Norris Park downtown. For more information, visit www.cityoftahlequah.com