Museum of The Cherokee Indian - Cherokee - TravBuddy

It's absolutely stunning how I have failed to pursue much knowledge on Native Americans, especially since I live relatively close to one of the more famous Native American reservations. So with my cross country road trip officially underway, the Cherokee Indian Reservation was the first stop on my journey.

I stopped in Cherokee, NC, at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for a walking tour of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

The exhibit traces the history of the Cherokee through pre-colonial life to the adaptation to 20th century living. The museum is a moving experience geared towards showing the resilience and determination of a people who were royally screwed on numerous occasions. Whether they fought back to preserve their land and lifestyle or played by the European's rules, they were continually taken advantage.

Of course, the treatment of Native Americans has been a quieted topic in American history and is grossly ignored when presented in our history books and daily teachings. This is extremely aggravating considering how much we learned from members of the Cherokee and many other tribes when Europeans first arrived - and even today we could benefit immensely from Cherokee wisdom.

The exhibit is well-funded and was quite remarkable. You take a linear walk starting with the first of several holographic films depicting the creation of the Cherokee land via an ancient legend all the way towards the end of the museum, which tells of the Cherokee's adaptation to modern life and their reacquisition of part of their original land. I was very impressed with the murals, the holographic films and the pristine condition of their artifacts on display.

This is highly recommended for all Americans, and it will provide an additional supplement to our true history for foreign visitors (many of whom frequented the museum while I was there).

I first went to this museum when I was about 14; now at 31 it was just as 'nice'. It's informative and educational, and worth your time and money. Cost was 9.00USD for adults, and 6.00USD for kids. The origins, history, stories and beliefs of the Cherokee are intriguing. My girlfriend is Cherokee by 1/4th; I'm about 1/100th. - Either way, we enjoyed it. If you like history, artifacts and reading your way through a museum - it is not a waste. But it is a little nondescript.

The town is a tourist trap. TRAP! If you go, drive PAST the cheesy, cheap, Cherokee shops (they are diagonal from the museum) and go further down to another intersection. The less cheesy shopping is on your right. When we got there it was closed. Seemed the town appears to have more energy on the weekends. Many things are closed mid-week, such as the SkyWay Lift (so I can't review that).

Otherwise, there is also a play called Unto These Hills. I saw it when I was 14, but it was also closed in April like most of the town. I recommend it from my recollection 17 years ago, and read that they have new costumes, routines, dances, and the out door theater is being overhauled currently.

Hummmm...not sure if I'd recommend this town as the pulse is in the casino.