Five Civilized Tribes Museum
Overview
The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa. It is best reached by following the Muskogee Turnpike to State Highway 62. The museum is open year round, Monday through Saturday.
The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is housed in the Union Indian Agency Building. Before is opening in 1966, the building served as a liaison point between the US government and the Creek nation. It was later used as an orphanage.
Today, the Union Indian Agency Building's primary purpose to is showcase art and artifacts created by past and present members of the five civilized tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole. All of these tribes had their ancestral grounds in the southeastern United States; they were forcibly relocated to what is now Oklahoma in the early 1800's. Many of them traveled on what has come to be known as the Trail of Tears.
Today the Five Civilized Tribes are all thriving communities with a lively presence in Oklahoma. The upper level of the museum is full of contemporary artwork by members of the Five Civilized Tribes. It also contains artifacts from the museum's permanent collection. The works of Willard Stone, a world famous Cherokee sculptor, can also be found in the museum's permanent collection. Downstairs you can find a variety of exhibits on the life, history, and culture of the tribes. The museum also strives to keep the historic arts of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole alive. They sponsor fairs and competitive sales showcasing traditional arts and crafts.
The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is housed in the Union Indian Agency Building. Before is opening in 1966, the building served as a liaison point between the US government and the Creek nation. It was later used as an orphanage.
Today, the Union Indian Agency Building's primary purpose to is showcase art and artifacts created by past and present members of the five civilized tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole. All of these tribes had their ancestral grounds in the southeastern United States; they were forcibly relocated to what is now Oklahoma in the early 1800's. Many of them traveled on what has come to be known as the Trail of Tears.
Today the Five Civilized Tribes are all thriving communities with a lively presence in Oklahoma. The upper level of the museum is full of contemporary artwork by members of the Five Civilized Tribes. It also contains artifacts from the museum's permanent collection. The works of Willard Stone, a world famous Cherokee sculptor, can also be found in the museum's permanent collection. Downstairs you can find a variety of exhibits on the life, history, and culture of the tribes. The museum also strives to keep the historic arts of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole alive. They sponsor fairs and competitive sales showcasing traditional arts and crafts.