Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is dedicated to Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee Syllabary. Born George Gist, Sequoyah was born circa 1776 in the Cherokee town of Tuskegee, near modern day Vonore, Tenn. In addition to giving the Cherokee people the gift of a written language; he was a father, soldier, silversmith, blacksmith and statesman.Sequoyah is the only person in 5,000 years of recorded human civilization to create a writing system, although he could not read or write in any language. Within two years of the creation of the syllabary in 1821 almost the entire Cherokee nation became literate.
In 1809, it was in his blacksmith shop Sequoyah announced that the Cherokees could create a writing system to record their accounts, records and history in their own language. He spent 12 years of his life creating a writing system, trying several different types that included hieroglyphics. He discovered the solution one day after hearing the repetitive sounds in the birds‚ singing. He listened to his friends and family for the repetitive sounds in their speech and found 86 sounds in the Cherokee language. He created symbols to represent each sound or syllable of the Cherokee language, thus creating the syllabary.
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum opened in 1986 as an agreement between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Tennessee Valley Authority, following the creation of Tellico Lake. The museum includes many exhibits detailing the archaeological digs conducted prior to the flooding of the former sites of Cherokee towns and villages along the Little Tennessee River.
The museum also features exhibits about the syllabary and the Trail of Tears. The museum gift shop includes a variety of books about the Cherokee as well as Cherokee arts and crafts, a large selection of jewelry, music and souvenirs.
The museum grounds include the Cherokee Memorial, the common burial site of Cherokee remains recovered archaeologically at the sties of former 18th-century Cherokee towns along the Little Tennessee River prior to the impoundment of the river.
The museum hosts several annual events including, Statehood Day on May 30, the Little Tennessee River Music Festival on June 27, Statehood Day is May 30, Ayoka’s Day of Play is October 10, Sequoyah Remembrance Day on August 2, and the Great Island Festival, in conjunction with Fort Loudoun State Historic Area, held the first weekend after Labor Day, September 12-13. We are also having a Cherokee Heritage Days April 24-25 aimed at teaching children about Cherokee Heritage.
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is the only tribally owned and operated museum in the state of Tennessee. The museum is open all year round Monday thru Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and noon - 5 p.m. on Sundays, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. It is located in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee along Highway 360, 37 miles south of Knoxville. There is a nominal admission fee and group discounts are available. For more information, call (423) 884-6246 or visit the Web site at www.sequoyahmuseum.org .
Tanasi
Tanasi is recognized as the first capital of the Cherokee Nation in 1730. The name Tanasi was also given to the river that ran along the town. In 1762, Lt. Henry Timberlake created a map of the Cherokee Overhill towns, on which he spelled Tanasi “Tennefsee.” (At that time the "f” stood for “ss.") Tanasi is believed to be the namesake for the state of Tennessee.
The site is situated on two acres, which TVA gave permanent easement to the Tennessee Historical Commission. The commission created a monument to commemorate the Cherokee town, which is now covered by the waters of Tellico Lake. The site is located 12 miles from the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum on Bacon Ferry Road.
Chota
By the 1750s, the Cherokee had moved the capital to Chota, which at that time was separated by a small creek from Tanasi. Through the years, it was known as the mother town, the beloved town, a white town or peace settlement. Chota was considered a sanctuary for fugitives and no blood could be shed there. Chota was destroyed in 1780, along with Tanasi and the other settlement towns. The Cherokee rebuilt the town, but not to its early grandeur. By 1820, the remaining few Cherokee had moved.
Today, there is a footprint of the original council house and the grave of Oconostota, the only Cherokee identified during the archaeological dig. He was the Cherokee who laid siege to Fort Loudoun in 1760 and one of the most prominent 18th-century Cherokee leaders. The site includes seven pillars dedicated to the seven clans of the Cherokee and the ceremonial fire that once burned in the center of the council house. The monument is located about one mile from Tanasi.
From Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, follow Hwy 360 to the junction of Hwy 360/Hwy 455. Follow Hwy 455 for about 5 miles, and then turn left onto County Road 461 where you will drive alongside the lake to the memorials.
