Recommendations for the top Cherokee NC Hotels
- Stonebrook Lodge (opposite Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, clean, comfortable)
- Great Smokies Inn (cozy, relaxing inn w/free breakfast & pool, good value)
Museum of the Cherokee People Info
ADDRESS: 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee NC
PHONE NUMBER: 828-497-3481
HOURS: Open daily from 9AM–5PM. Last ticket sold at 4 PM.
ADMISSION: Adults $12; Children ages 6-12- $7; Children ages 5 & under get in free.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM BRYSON CITY
From downtown Bryson City NC, head southeast on Everett St toward Depot St. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto US-19/Hwy 19 W/Main St. Continue for 9.7 miles, then turn left onto Hospital Rd. Travel for 0.5 miles, and take a slight right towards Drama Rd. In 194 ft, turn right onto Drama Rd. After 0.3 miles, turn right and the museum will be on the left.
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Cherokee Museum History
Originally opened as the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in 1948, the museum moved to its current location in the heart of Cherokee NC in 1976.
One of the longest-running tribal museums in the USA, it attracts around 85,000 visitors per year to the Qualla Boundary, the territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the ancestral lands of all Cherokee people.
Through its extensive collections, exhibits, and events, the museum aims to share 15,000+ years of history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee people.
In 1998, the museum underwent a huge renovation that included the addition of a 12,000-square-foot exhibit. A new education wing was added in 2010.
On Indigenous People’s Day (October 9) in 2023, the name was changed to The Museum of the Cherokee People, with a complete rebranding and ongoing renovations that are expected to last several years.
According to Executive Director Shana Bushyhead Condill, the name change was meant to signify that the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes are, in fact, one people.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in Cherokee NC & the Qualla Boundary
Exhibits, Events & Workshops
We’ve visited this fantastic museum several times in the last few years and gained more from each experience.
It was great to see visitors of all ages learning from the interactive exhibits, such as learning to use the Cherokee alphabet and getting to touch pelts of local species of wildlife.
There is a lot to read and see here, so we recommend giving yourself 3 hours to get the full experience.
The museum often features the Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists, who can answer visitor questions and share cultural practices and demonstrations, including storytelling, finger-weaving, and wood carving.
There’s a permanent collection that takes you through the history of America’s indigenous people, starting with the Paleolithic period, through the Archaic and Woodland periods, and on to the Mississippian period.
Throughout Winter, they offer full-day Gadugi Pottery Workshops open to all enrolled members of federally recognized tribes.
Check out the calendar on their website for other special events, temporary seasonal exhibits, and workshops being offered later in the year.
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Cherokee Museum Shop & The Qualla Arts Co-Op
This museum has a lovely gift shop that offers all sorts of books, home decor, jewelry, clothing, and other handmade souvenirs from Cherokee artists and craftspeople.
The neighboring Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual was established in 1946 to strengthen tribal values, celebrate Cherokee culture, and provide a living to local Cherokee people.
It all started with 60 artists and crafters, but the organization’s membership continues to grow, with over 350 artisans currently enrolled. It’s one of the country’s most successful tribal cooperatives!
If you want to visit, the Qualla Arts Co-op is across the street from the Cherokee museum, offering an array of Cherokee handicrafts made using techniques that were passed down through the generations.
There’s also an exhibit room featuring special work from highly regarded Cherokee artists.
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Renovation & Rebranding
The Museum of the Cherokee People is currently undergoing major renovations. Although they’re projected to take at least 3 years, the museum will remain open to visitors.
This process started with the name change and rebranding in October 2023, with a goal to create new exhibits and space for new collections, as well as give the current exhibits a facelift.
It’s all part of an effort to create an authentic space representing the 3 Cherokee tribes: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
Executive Director Shana Bushyhead Condill says the museum update will include 100 years of recent history not currently covered in the exhibits. They also want to honor the story of tribal women more than before.
Designed by Tyra Maney of Cherokee NC, their new logo includes a water spider, which legend says brought fire to the Cherokee. The X on its back represents fire, while a spiral represents the evolution of the Cherokee people.
The vivid colors used in the new logo signify the blue skies, magenta flowers, the golden jewelweed, the white of the locust flowers, and the evergreens surrounding the museum.
With a Grand Opening projected for 2027, the museum staff hopes to create a space that is more inclusive, and tells the full story of who the Cherokee people are now. –by Emma Gallagher; all photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
