Printing Press Returns To The Cherokee Nation

 Nearly 100 Years Later: The Cherokee Advocate Newspaper 

Printing Press Returns To The Cherokee Nation

It Was The First Newspaper In Indian Territory, Which Later Became Oklahoma, And, 
At The Time, The Only Tribal-Owned And Published Newspaper In The United States

Tahlequah, Okla., --- The Cherokee Advocate newspaper printing press today returned to its original home after nearly 100 years and will now be the centerpiece of the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum, which has undergone extensive historic restoration and is scheduled to open to the public in early April. The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum is located at 122 E. Keetoowah St., Tahlequah, OK 74464.

The last issue of the Cherokee Advocate was published on March 3, 1906. At the time the federal government was in the process of shutting down the Cherokee Nation government and its citizens were being forced to enroll for land allotments. In 1911 the printing office, printing press, and other equipment were sold to the publisher of the New Era newspaper in Fort Gibson, Okla., for $151.00. The Cherokee syllabary typeset was sent to the Smithsonian Institute for preservation. 

The Cherokee Advocate was the first newspaper in Indian Territory, which later became Oklahoma, and, at the time, the only tribal-owned and published newspaper in the United States when it was first published on September 26, 1844.

“It’s with great reverence that we welcome the Cherokee Advocate printing press back to its home after nearly 100 years,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which oversees the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department. “The printing press is the perfect anchor for the museum and will serve as a reminder for future generations and visitors the depth of sacrifice the Cherokee people were forced to endure over the years.”

The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum will feature pieces in three historic areas including the Cherokee National Judicial System, the Cherokee Advocate and Phoenix newspapers and the Cherokee language with a variety of historical items including photos, stories, objects and furniture. 

One of the main highlights of the museum will be exhibits that relate to the Cherokee Advocate, which was printed in the Cherokee National Supreme Court Building at several points of time over its history. The Cherokee Nation recently acquired on loan the last printing press for the Cherokee Advocate from the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla. Written in both Cherokee and English, the Cherokee Advocate was the primary means of the Cherokee Nation to inform its people from 1844 to 1906. 

The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department will operate the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum in addition to featuring the program’s four historically authentic tours that include lunch and feature an interpretative guide on the Cherokee History Tour, Cherokee Old Settler Tour, Civil War History Tour, and Will Rogers History Tour. 

The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum is one of several preservation projects recently undertaken by Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism including Ross Cemetery, the Cherokee National Capitol Building and Cherokee National Jail. Each site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For information on the Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism program, call (877) 779-6977 or visit http://www.cherokeetourismok.com.

 
 
About Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department
The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Department is managed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and was created in 2007 to promote the story of the Cherokee people. Efforts by the Cherokee Nation include developing guided community and educational tours, creating tourism partnerships and programs throughout northeastern Oklahoma, and launching a new Cherokee tourism-specific web site. For more information, please visit http://www.cherokeetourismok.com.
 
About Cherokee Nation Entertainment
Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming, hospitality, retail and tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Entertainment owns and operates the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, five Cherokee Casinos, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, three hotels, two golf courses and many other retail operations in northeastern Oklahoma. For more information, please visit http://www.cherokeestarrewards.com.

About Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign operating government of the Cherokee people.  It is a federally recognized tribe of more than 280,000 Cherokee citizens, with its capitol located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Employing more than 6,500 people, Cherokee Nation’s annual economic impact in Oklahoma and surrounding areas is more than $1 billion dollars. To learn more, please visit http://www.cherokee.org.
 
 

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