Visiting the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee NC

Published by Carl. Last Updated on September 18, 2024.

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This guide to the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee NC shares how you can visit and learn about the history of the Cherokee people and celebrate their rich culture.

The Museum of the Cherokee People (formerly the Museum of the Cherokee Indian) invites all visitors to learn about the history and the rich culture of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian (EBCI).

As one of the top attractions in Cherokee, NC, the Museum recounts over 13,000 years of Cherokee history, from the early tribes to the resilience and perseverance of the people today.

There’s also an extensive set of exhibits that cover the Trail of Tears and its devastating effects on the Cherokee people through first-hand accounts. Due to the subjects discussed inside and the location, we think this is one of the most important museums in North Carolina to visit.

Our guide shares how you can visit and what you’ll find inside, and we’ve organized it into the following sections:

Where is the Museum of the Cherokee People?
When is the Museum open?
Ticket Info
Things to Do
- Indoor Exhibits
- Outdoor Exhibits
- Education Wing
- Events
- Museum Store
Nearby Attractions in Cherokee

Where is the Museum of the Cherokee People?

Address: 589 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee, NC
Phone Number: 828-497-3481
Official Website

Museum of the Cherokee Indian — Photo Taken before the Museum’s Renaming to the Museum of the Cherokee People.

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The Museum of the Cherokee People is located along the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, within the Qualla Boundary land trust in Western North Carolina. Quite a few Cherokee attractions are nearby, including the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds and Qualla Arts and Crafts.

You can visually plan your next trip to the museum with our Western North Carolina Map.

When is the Museum of the Cherokee People Open?

The Museum’s hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
Ticket sales close at 4:00 p.m.
The Museum is closed on the following holidays:
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Eve
- New Year’s Day

Ticket Info

Ticket prices are:
- Adults: $12
- Children Ages 6 to 12: $7
- Children Age 5 and Younger: FREE
General admission tickets do not expire, so feel free to come in any day of the week.
There are also discounted rates for groups of 20 or more. Contact the museum for group rates and unique presentations.

Things to Do at the Museum of the Cherokee People

After buying your ticket, you can explore the Museum of the Cherokee People. A self-guided tour of the Museum takes approximately one hour.

Here are all the things to do inside and outside.

The Main Gallery (Closed for Renovations since December 2023)
Changing Exhibitions
Outdoor Exhibits
Education Wing
Events
Museum of the Cherokee People Gift Shop

The Main Gallery

The Museum of the Cherokee People's Main Gallery closed in December 2023 for renovations. At this time, there's no date set for reopening but we'll keep you posted.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian Cherokee NC Etowah

Before the Main Gallery closed in December 2023, it housed the Museum’s most acclaimed exhibit—”Story of the Cherokee: 13,000 Years.”

The winding exhibit dedicated a section to each significant period in Cherokee history, starting with the Paleolithic Era (Paleo) and ending with contemporary times.

While we await its reopening, here’s a breakdown of what the Main Gallery featured:

The Paleo display showcased the early stone tools used by the Cherokee for hunting and living. Collections included the delicate spears, flint-knapping tools, and knives used nearly two million years ago.
Artifacts, interactive video, animation, and special effects accompanied the Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian-era sections.
Halfway through the exhibit was the well-known Contact period, the point in history when the Cherokee first interacted with the Europeans in 1540.
The exhibit then moved through more recent periods in Cherokee history, from Civilization to the Trail of Tears to the modern era. There, you could listen to first-hand accounts from the Trail of Tears and learn about the perspectives of Cherokee people today.
Another powerful collection of exhibits focused on more recent times and the achievements of the Cherokee people. In addition, there were spotlights on Cherokee who have served in the US Military and fought for our country.

Changing Exhibitions

The Museum of the Cherokee People also hosts special or “Changing Exhibitions,” which include the following:

sov·er·eign·ty: Expressions in Sovereignty of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (March 15, 2024 to February 28, 2025): This exhibit focuses on important topics to the Cherokee People, including the complex issue of “tribal sovereignty,” the EBCI’s relationship with its land, its people, and with the US Government.
Previous Changing Exhibitions Include:
- Disruption: An Artist Intervention of the Museum’s Main Exhibition (September 11, 2022 to December 29, 2023)
- A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary in Contemporary Art (June 12, 2021, to October 31, 2021, and November 19, 2021, to March 14, 2022)
- Many Faces: A Cherokee Mask Exhibit (March 28, 2021 to May 1, 2021)
- Renewal of the Ancient: Cherokee Millennial Artists (September 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019)
- People of the Clay: Contemporary Cherokee Potters (April 6, 2019 to May 2020)

Outdoor Exhibits

Museum of the Cherokee Indian NC Outdoor

As you approach the front of the entrance, you’ll be welcomed by the 20-foot, hand-carved statue of Sequoyah, the inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet.

The Cherokee are the first Native American people to have a distinct alphabet, thanks to Sequoyah.

Education Wing

Museum of the Cherokee Indian NC Sequoyah

The Cherokee Museum focuses heavily on educating the public about Cherokee traditions and history.

Here are a few examples:

There is a collection of journals, lesson plans, packets for students, and documentation of endangered languages.
A fantastic project that the Museum does is genealogy research, where the Museum identifies and traces Cherokee ancestry in your family.
Warriors of AniKituhwa is a local group specializing in the Cherokee War Dance, recorded by Lt. Henry Timberlake in 1762. The WoA has performed in Montreal, Canada, at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and nationwide.

Events

Museum of the Cherokee Indian Cherokee NC Trail of Tears

The Museum of the Cherokee People hosts events throughout the year. Examples include a Winter Lecture Series held entirely online. Panelists from around the country participated to speak on language, cultural preservation, arts, and more.

Museum of the Cherokee People Gift Shop

As you close out a day of learning about the rich Cherokee culture, stop by the Museum of the Cherokee People gift shop for a souvenir. The store focuses on products with ties to the Cherokee people, like pottery, woven baskets, books, art, and so much more!

Ready to Visit the Museum of the Cherokee People?

With important subject matter housed within its walls and its location within the Qualla Boundary, we think visiting the Museum of the Cherokee People is worth your time. Whether traveling alone or with your family, it’s a crucial place to visit.

We’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve visited this Cherokee Museum. Let us know in the comments and remember to share your Cherokee travel adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!

Nearby Attractions in Cherokee NC (and Beyond)

Beyond the Museum of the Cherokee People, there are plenty of other Cherokee attractions, and cool places to visit in Bryson City, Swain County, and Jackson County.

Here are a few of them:

Waterfalls: Some of North Carolina’s most beautiful waterfalls are in Cherokee. We think you’ll love the easier-to-access accessible Mingo Falls, which translates to “Big Bear” in Cherokee. The climb to this massive waterfall is only about 160 steps and is worth every minute. Soco Falls is another excellent waterfall in Cherokee, but a bit trickier to reach. What makes Soco unique is the merging of two waterfalls that creates a truly stunning scene.
Unto These Hills: For more Cherokee culture, visit the Mountainside Theatre. This venue is the home of “Unto These Hills,” the widely popular outdoor drama that tells the story of the Cherokee. The cast, story, and show all come together to create an entertaining and truly educational experience.
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort: Stay a few days in Cherokee at Harrah’s Casino Resort, a mountainside hotel, casino, and restaurant all in one! A hub of entertainment and community, Harrah’s location near the Great Smoky Mountains makes it an excellent place for exploring Cherokee and the mountains.
Oconaluftee Indian Village: Step back to the 1700s in Oconaluftee Indian Village. This replica of a historic Cherokee community has lots to see and do! Enjoy the cultural dance performances, try your hand at weaving baskets and creating pottery, and soak in the area’s beauty.
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail: The Museum of the Cherokee People is included in this trail, which stretches 5,000 miles over nine states. The National Parks unit remembers the Trail of Tears tragedy, where the US Government forcibly removed thousands of Cherokee people from their communities. In Western NC, the trail includes museums and other spots that commemorate essential pieces of history.
Bryson City: About 20 minutes away from Cherokee, Bryson City is one of our favorite North Carolina mountain towns! The town is well-known for hiking and river recreation. Places we love include the waterfall-filled Deep Creek Loop, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and the Road to Nowhere. Of course, Bryson City has endless fun and much more to explore!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Of all the national parks in North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited. It’s the most visited National Park in the US. Here are a few of our favorite places to stay on the NC side of the Smokies:
- Big Creek Trail (leads to Mouse Creek Falls and more)
- Clingmans Dome Observation Tower (the western terminus of the Mountains to Sea Trail)
- Deep Creek Trail (a 3-waterfall hike)
- Mingus Mill (largest grist mill in the Smokies)
- The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (known for elk sightings)
Blue Ridge Parkway: The Blue Ridge Parkway’s southern terminus (Milepost 469) is near Cherokee. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is right around the corner. There are many great stops and hikes along the Parkway near Cherokee.
- Waterrock Knob (MP 451)
- Richland Balsam Overlook (MP 431.4)
- Devil’s Courthouse (MP 422.4)

More Things to Do in Cherokee (NC Travel Guides)

There are even more Cherokee attractions, and our NC travel guides collection covers them in more detail. Here are a few of them.

Visiting the Museum of the Cherokee People (13,000 Years of History in One Important Space)