Our Arklahoma Heritage: Tahlonteskee-The Cherokee Nation’s first established capital in Indian Territory

In 1828, John Jolly, principal chief of the Western Band of Cherokees, led about 1,800 people to a bend in the Arkansas River in present-day eastern Oklahoma. After an 800-mile journey from Arkansas, forced by treaties, Jolly selected the site for its fertile land and forests.

He named it Tahlonteskee, meaning “place of the council” in Cherokee, making it the first capital of the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory. Tahlonteskee represented Cherokee tradition and herittage during a challenging time for the tribe.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, led to the Trail of Tears, a forced march that killed thousands by 1838. The Western Cherokees, who had moved west in the 1810s to avoid land loss, built a seven-sided log council house at Tahlonteskee.

This structure hosted the Cherokee National Council, which created laws to protect communal lands, establish schools, and secure women’s property rights, a forward-thinking approach for the era.  Farms, blacksmith shops, and weaving supported the local economy.

The site was a center for governance and culture, where stomp dances and the Cherokee syllabary, developed by Sequoyah in 1821, were practiced. It also served as a refuge for Eastern Cherokees arriving after the Trail, where survivors mourned the 4,000 who died.

 John Jolly died in December 1838 near present-day Webbers Falls and his burial site is unconfirmed, likely an unmarked grave near his plantation at the Arkansas and Illinois Rivers' confluence.

Tahlonteskee served as capital from 1829 to 1839. The arrival of Principal Chief John Ross and the larger Eastern Cherokee group shifted the focus to Tahlequah, 30 miles away, deemed a better location for unity.

Tahlonteskee’s exposure to floods and raids made it less practical. By 1839, the council house was abandoned, and the Illinois District courthouse closed by 1846.

 The site’s log structures decayed, leaving only foundations by the Civil War, and settlers later scavenged the remains as Oklahoma approached statehood in 1907.

Today, Tahlonteskee is a historic site managed by the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma state parks. Archaeological work has revealed council house foundations, pottery, and hearths, providing insights into Cherokee life.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1971, as the Tahlonteskee District, its 40 acres in Sequoyah County are recognized for their historical and archaeological significance.  

The National Park Service oversees its preservation, protecting it from erosion and development, and links it to the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

Located two miles north of Gore, Oklahoma, in Sequoyah County, Tahlonteskee is near U.S. Highway 64.

From Gore, take State Highway 10 north for two miles to a gravel road with a marked trailhead. The site is free, open from dawn to dusk, with interpretive signs. Spring and fall offer the best visiting conditions with clear trails and mild weather. \

No large monuments mark the site, only subtle ruins and a Cherokee Nation plaque.