Day 22 touring Cherokee Nation

This morning we headed to the Cherokee Heritage Center just outside of Tahlequah. It is the area where the Trail of Tears ended. It is also a replica of a Cherokee Village. We went on a guided tour that took us through a typical Winter and Summer home. Our guide explained how the people made the houses and what materials they were made of. We learned about Stickball and how to make arrowheads. We entered a "meeting hall" where the people from the 7 clans would come for ceremonies and other things. It was a great tour and we all learned a lot. After the guided tour we did a self guided tour around some of the grounds and saw 1840's replica wood houses. In the school we met a guy who was a Cherokee language instructor. He gave a us a paper that had some Cherokee words and phrases on it. We went over the paper and learned some Cherokee. At the Heritage Park there was a museum that had a good sized exhibit explaining the Trail of Tears. It was very interesting. I knew a lot about it beforehand from reading different stories and history, but I still learned more there. I liked the exhibit, but it is still not easy to take knowing what happened to Cherokee and all the other Tribes.
After the Heritage park we headed to the Cherokee Prison that was in town. It was very interesting. I had to explain to the kids what Gallows were. We then decided to get some Ice Cream since it was so hot and humid here. After Ice Cream it was swimming time at the hotel.

I am very glad that we made it here for all of us to experience. The Heritage Park was definitely the best. Today we all learned a lot and had fun doing it.

Original columns from the Cherokee Women's Seminary School

School House

Blacksmith

Church

Cherokee Prison Cell

Ice Cream Time

 

Dinner Time

More Ice Cream FUN

 

English and Cherokee street sign

ama=water

Chief John Ross

The Key Master (AH-HAHAHA!)

The kids didn't feel like staying at the Prison on these mats. I don't know why?

The Gallows through the barred up windows of the Prison 

Osiyo

 

Here are a few of the words we learned today

Osiyo = Hello
ama = water
wa-do = thank you
kila = later (as in see you later)
Osda = good

The last couple of days here in Cherokee country have been pretty cool.

Tomorrow we are headed to Little Rock and Hot Springs National Park.

Kila