Why It Matters
Tahlequah has been the seat of the Cherokee Nation since 1839, at the end of the forced removal that killed thousands on the Trail of Tears. Three museums sit within walking distance of the town square: the Cherokee National History Museum in the 1869 Capitol building, the Cherokee National Prison Museum, the only jail in all of Indian Territory from 1875 to 1901, and the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum in the oldest government building in the state, which also printed Oklahoma's first newspaper.
This is the living capital of the largest tribe in the country, and home of Northeastern State University, founded in 1846 as the Cherokee National Female Seminary. It is one of the most important places in the country to understand Native history, told by the Nation itself.
The RV Adventurer's Take
The Illinois River is the draw for most travelers. A protected Scenic River since 1970, it runs cold and clear along Highway 10, lined with float outfitters and resorts that rent kayaks, rafts, and canoes and offer riverside cabins, camping, and RV pads. Float season runs May through September, and summer weekends sell out, so book your outfitter ahead.
For state park camping, Lake Tenkiller and Tenkiller State Park sit about twenty-five minutes south, and Sequoyah State Park on Fort Gibson Lake is about forty-five minutes west. The Sparrow Hawk trail is the local hiking classic above the river.
Field Note
The three downtown museums are walkable and mostly free, open Tuesday through Saturday, so plan around those days. On the river, life jackets are required and glass and styrofoam coolers are banned. Water levels shift with rain, so call your outfitter the morning you float.
History to See
Ten minutes south in Park Hill, Hunter's Home is the only surviving pre-Civil War plantation home in Oklahoma, a stop on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail with costumed demonstrations. If the three downtown museums leave you wanting more, the John Ross Museum and the Supreme Court Museum round out the story.