Sequoyah's Cabin

Sequoyah's Cabin, located in Sallisaw, Okla. 

Sequoyah built this one-room log cabin in 1829 shortly after moving to Oklahoma; he was originally from Tennessee and born around 1778. Despite having a bad leg, he became known as a skilled blacksmith, silversmith and artist.

In 1809 he began experimenting with a written alphabet for the Cherokee language. After many years of experimentation, Sequoyah realized the Cherokee language is composed of a set number of recurring sounds. With this insight he identified the sounds and created a symbol for each sound, producing a syllabary. By 1821 his work was complete. When Sequoyah demonstrated that he and his daughter, Ahyokah (Ah-yo-ka), could communicate by reading written messages, the teaching of the syllabary spread.

Sequoyah left his eastern home in 1818 to operate a salt production and blacksmith works near present-day Russellville, Arkansas. In 1828 Sequoyah joined a delegation sent to Washington by the Arkansas Cherokee to make a treaty to exchange their lands for lands in Indian Territory. Following this trip, Sequoyah traded his land and salt works for land located on Big Skin Bayou Creek in Indian Territory.

Tour this one-room cabin and transport yourself back in time as you learn the basics of Sequoyah's syllabary and view many other Cherokee artifacts that are on display.

Admission:
Adults $5.00  
Seniors $3.00  
Student $3.00  
Under 5 Free