Cherokee Heritage Center Completes Final Renovation; Facility Now Fully Open To Guests
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Restorations are now twice as nice as the Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Tourism Department today announced the completion of its second and final renovation to the Cherokee Heritage Center, which is located at 21192 S. Keeler, Park Hill, bringing its $280,000 overall project to completion.
The two-phase transformation boasts a contemporary Cherokee museum store and a revitalized atrium and amenities within the historic Cherokee Heritage Center featuring:
Contemporary Cherokee Museum Store
Anchoring the museum is the recently renovated museum store presenting authentic Cherokee art and artifacts displayed in a showroom setting and available for purchase.
Completed in the first phase of the renovation, the $90,000 retail space also offers books, prints, jewelry, apparel, apparel accessories, craft materials and souvenirs among many other items.
Exhibits encased in stairway walls leading from the all-new grand atrium will enthrall guests entering the museum store.
All-New Grand Atrium and Sparkling Amenities
Guests will now be welcomed in splendid fashion to the Cherokee Heritage Center as they enter through the all-new grand atrium, which is sprinkled with fresh plants and flowers all surrounding a unique water garden.
Phase two of the project, which cost $190,000, also features completely refurbished restroom facilities, fresh interior paint and a remodeled kitchen area.
Historic Cherokee Heritage Center
Melding the new with the old, the entrance to the contemporary Cherokee museum store and all-new grand atrium is framed by three tall columns, remaining signatures of the 1850 Cherokee Female Seminary that was once located on the site and was the first institution of higher learning for women west of the Mississippi.
The Cherokee Heritage Center, which sits on a 44-acre complex, was established in 1963 by Chief W.W. Keeler to house hundreds of tribal historical documents, photographs and exhibits. The living village was inaugurated in 1967 and the museum and gift shop followed in 1974. The center continued to grow and now features the Tsa-La-Gi Ancient Village, the Adams Corner Rural Village and various art shows, competitions and exhibits that are held throughout the year.
The overall goal for the design and renovation of the Cherokee Heritage Center was to create a seamless transition between the renovated Cherokee museum store, the all-new grand atrium and the heritage museum while maintaining the historical and cultural integrity of the facility and guest experience.
“We are delighted with the completion and results of the Cherokee Heritage Center renovations,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which manages the Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Tourism Department. “With the new facilities we will be able to better serve the Cherokee Nation in preserving and presenting its history while now having the means to share the Cherokee culture and experience with the thousands of tourists who seek to better understand the Cherokee life story.”
Childers Architect of Fort Smith, Ark., led the renovation project, Resource Design of Rogers, Ark., designed the Cherokee museum store and Takoda Development of Ponca City, Okla., led the construction on both phases of the renovation.
About Cherokee Heritage Center
The Cherokee Heritage Center is governed by the Cherokee National Historical Society, Inc., a non-profit organization. It serves as a national historical and cultural preservation site for the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Heritage Center is located at 21192 S. Keeler, Park Hill, OK. For more information, please call (888) 999-6007 or visit www.cherokeeheritage.org.
About Cherokee Nation Enterprises
Cherokee Nation Enterprises is the gaming and hospitality arm of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Enterprises owns and operates Cherokee Casino Resort, five Cherokee Casinos, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, three hotels, two golf courses and many other retail operations in northeastern Oklahoma. For more information, please visit www.cherokeecasino.com.
About Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department
The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department was created in 2007 to promote the story of the Cherokee people. Efforts by the Cherokee Nation include developing guided community and educational tours, creating tourism partnerships and programs throughout northeastern Oklahoma, and launching a new Cherokee tourism-specific website. For more information, please visit www.cherokeetourismok.com.
About Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign operating government of the Cherokee people. It is a federally recognized tribe of more than 280,000 Cherokee citizens, with its capitol located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Employing more than 6,500 people, Cherokee Nation’s annual economic impact in Oklahoma and surrounding areas is more than $1 billion dollars. To learn more, please visit www.cherokee.org.
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