Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner sign legislation to build new $50M Cherokee Heritage Center

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and members of the Council of the Cherokee Nation met Sept. 25 to officially sign legislation authorizing construction of a new $50 million Cherokee Heritage Center, replacing the current shuttered facility as recommended by the tribe's Historical Society.

"Our mission since 2020 has been to honor the work of those who, decades ago, were dedicated to creating the Cherokee Heritage Center that we have grown to love over the years. We knew we needed to bring it into the 21st Century and put the Cherokee people in control of a new state-of-the-art center for history, culture and research," Chief Hoskin said. "The Council of the Cherokee Nation and our great partners at the Historical Society have been waiting to see the future of this campus, so I'm certainly proud to report that we will share our own story for future generations of Cherokees through this new investment."

The legislation was passed by the Council of the Cherokee Nation on Sept. 25 during a special Council meeting. The Council unanimously approved the amendment to the Cherokee Heritage Center Act of 2020 which authorizes the tribe to construct the $50 million campus. The signing was held on the campus of the current Heritage Center one day before the five-year anniversary of the 2020 act.

The existing Heritage Center closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained closed since that time. In 2021 the tribe's archives were transferred to a new state-of-the-art Cherokee National Research Center at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah.

"Chief Hoskin and I are proud to share that our five-year-long journey of reimagining this campus is taking another milestone step with the support of the Council of the Cherokee Nation and the great public servants at the Cherokee National Historical Society," said Deputy Chief Warner. "The new Heritage Center will feature a dedicated Cherokee National Treasures gallery and a trail system for people to get out and enjoy the beautiful trees and new installations on the campus."

The reimagining of the 58-acre campus includes permanent exhibit spaces, rotating gallery spaces, public art installations, office space for employees, a seven-sided gathering place referencing the seven Cherokee clans, a café, and other Cherokee cultural elements that reflect woven basketry, natural lighting and natural water features. Construction of the facility is set to be completed in two phases with the first phase estimated to be complete in late 2028.

When completed, the facility will be operated by Cherokee Nation Businesses Culture and Economic Development team, which manages and operates all of the tribe's historic and cultural sites.

The original Cherokee Female Seminary columns will remain a fixture of the campus and will be the center point of a new public plaza.

Additionally, the tribe will preserve portions of the Tsa-La-Gi Amphitheater which was built in 1969 and operated until the early 2000's. The current structure is in a state of disrepair but will be improved to allow the community to connect to the site through an overlook with an ability to add additional enhancements in future phases.

"The Heritage Center has been a project in which the Council has kept close tabs on since the 2020 legislation was passed that dissolved the old Cherokee National Historical Society and brought forth a new partnership," said Speaker of the Council Johnny Jack Kidwell. "This major milestone comes from years of groundwork from the historians and Cherokee citizens who serve on the historical society board. I'm proud to serve alongside my fellow councilors who unanimously passed this legislation - ensuring future Cherokee generations have a place to reconnect with and learn more about their culture and heritage."

Members of the 2020 Cherokee National Historical Society board worked for five years on the plan to revitalize the space. The chair of the Cherokee National Historical Society board joined the tribe at the signing ceremony along with other board members.

"The board of the Cherokee National Historical Society has worked diligently with a highly skilled design team to develop a plan that is responsive to our community, connected to our culture, and honors the past of the Cherokee Heritage Center as we look to the future," said CNHS board chair Christy Neuhoff. "We are grateful to the Council of Cherokee Nation, the past leaders of the original Cherokee National Historical Society, and to Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner for laying the foundation for this exciting next chapter of the Cherokee Heritage Center."

Anishinabe Design, a TERO vendor, led by Safdie Architects, will continue designing the new Cherokee Heritage Center. Safdie Architects also designed the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.

The plans for the $50 million Heritage Center are available to view at this link.

Brenda Partain, a board member of both the 1963 Cherokee National Historical Society and the 2020 restructure, attended the signing ceremony.

"The changes here are going to be dramatic and long lasting," said Partain. "Back in the '90s we understood that there needed to be changes as the buildings aged but we wanted to do it with respect, as this is a sacred space. This agreement brings the $50 million facility together. We're thankful to Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee Nation Businesses Cultural and Economic Development team for being great partners in this transition."