TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation opened a brand-new Cherokee National Research Center in Tahlequah on Wednesday.

The center was created as a new home for thousands of historical documents and artifacts dating back to the 1700s.

Vice President of Cultural Tourism for the Cherokee Nation Travis Owens explained the items were previously housed at the Cherokee Heritage Center nearby, but because of the unfit condition of the facility for the historic pieces, they were moved to the new center through the Cherokee Heritage Act of 2020.

It’s taken about a year to move the items into the meticulously organized, fire-proof and storm-resistant new vault. The HVAC system inside allows the humidity and temperature inside to be controlled. Lighting is also specialized to keep the artifacts in prime condition.

One of, if not the most significant items in the collection, is a land patent signed by former U.S. President Martin Van Buren dated 1838. Owens explains it is preservation of items like this one that will serve the entirety of Oklahoma. “Cherokee Nation’s story is Oklahoma’s story, and so these assets that help tell that story, are important for the community, for our citizens, for Oklahomans, to connect and understand the people that are here and were here, to understand that shared history,” said Owens.

As of now, storage of artifacts at the Cherokee National Research Center is temporary. The tribe is working to revamp the heritage center as a whole and move the items back to that space in the future.

The center is open to the public. There are two research rooms inside and you can book an appointment for free genealogy services if interested.

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