The town of Cherokee sits at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Over the years the town has been maligned for its depiction of Native Americans and it's over abundance of tacky tourist shops. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to change this and has recently built a more tasteful cultural center. Other attractions in town include the Botanical Gardens and the Oconaluftee Indian Village.
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, located in Cherokee, tells the story of the Cherokee Indians from the beginning of time through four timeframes. The museum has a state of the art computer aided display that combines images, audio, special effects, with the extensive collection of artifacts. The four main timeframes covered are the "Trail of Tears", "Paleo Period", "Archaic Period", and "Mississippian Period".
Address: Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Box 1599, Cherokee, NC 28719-1599, United States
Phone: 1 (828) 497-3481, Fax: 1 (828) 497-4985
Hours:
May 31 to September 6: 9am-7pm; Sun:9am-5pm
September 7 to May 30: 9am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
See the model of a Cherokee village from over 225 years ago. Cherokee guides in native costume will explain their history, the culture and lifestyle of their ancestors.
Oconaluftee Indian Village is a great place to learn about local native culture and history. This is a recreation of a 1750s Oconaluftee Indian Village where visitors can see demonstrations of old crafts and traditions such as beadworking, weaving, pottery, mask carving, canoe construction, and more.
Santa's Land is an amusement park with a Christmas theme. The part consists of Santa's Village, Zoo Land, Fun Land, and the North Pole. The zoo comes complete with reindeer that children can pet. Fun Land features a reindeer roller coasters and other rides, most of which are geared towards younger children. Santa's Land can be a fun outing for families with toddlers and young kids.
Address: Santa's Land Park and Zoo, 571 Wolfetown Road, Cherokee, NC 28719, United States
Phone: 1 (828) 497-9191, Fax: 1 (828) 497-9188
Unto These Hills in Cherokee is an outdoor drama about the arrival of the white man and the Cherokee who were driven out of the Great Smoky Mountains and the "Trail of Tears". The story is recreated in a very compelling manner and includes an elaborate Great Eagle Dance.
Unto These Hills runs throughout the summer months and advance tickets are recommended.
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