Cherokee Nation Formalizes Purchase Of Sequoyah's Cabin

The Oklahoma Historical Society will finalize the sale of Sequoyah's Cabin to the Cherokee Nation next week in Sequoyah County.

The tribe is celebrating the purchase November 9 at 2:30 p.m. with a signing ceremony to signify the acquisition of the historic home of Sequoyah, who developed the Cherokee alphabet in the 1820s. 

9/4/2016 Related Story: Cherokee Nation Steps In To Save Sequoyah's Cabin

The Oklahoma Historical Society closed the National Historical Landmark near Sallisaw at the end of August 2016 due to budget cuts, but the Cherokee Nation stepped in in September 2016, and purchased the cabin. 

Sequoyah built the one-room cabin in 1829 near Sallisaw.  The 200-acre property was donated to the historical society in 1936. The cabin was then enclosed in a stone WPA building for preservation. 

The state has owned the property for the last 80 years, but now the tribe will be owners, tribal officials said in September. 

The popular tourist attraction was constructed by Sequoyah in 1829 and welcomes more than 12,000 visitors each year. It was designated as a National

Historic Landmark in 1966 and a National Literary Landmark in 2006. The homestead includes a one-room cabin and nearly 200 acres.

Sequoyah’s Cabin will continue operations under Cherokee Nation Businesses and be managed by the cultural tourism department.