Council House, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Council House, also known as the Choctaw Capitol Building, is an historic site in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
two miles north of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma
. The Choctaw National Council House is located here, as well as the Old Town Cemetery of Tuskahoma.
A United States Post Office operated here as Council House, Indian Territory from February 6, 1872 to June 30, 1880. Postal operations were later carried on at nearby Lyceum, site of the Choctaw girls’ academy, and Tuskahoma.
During the days of the Indian Territory
the Council House was located in Wade County, Choctaw Nation
.
After several decades of constitutional experimentation, during which the Choctaw Indians moved their national capital among several locations, the National Council in 1883 authorized construction of a permanent seat of government at Tushka Homma. The name means “home of the red warrior” in the Choctaw language
, and its spelling has since been standardized as Tuskahoma.
The Capitol completed during 1884. It is 70 feet long by 70 feet wide, and 50 feet high. It consists of two stories and a large mansarded attic. In the fall of 1884 the Indian Journal at Muskogee, Indian Territory wrote, “The capitol building is the finest structure in the Territory…”
Inside the Capitol were rooms for the Senate, House of Representatives, Principal Chief, Supreme Court, and constitutional officers, including the National Attorney and National Auditor.
The Capitol was in use from 1884 until 1907, when the Choctaw Nation
was abolished and Oklahoma
became a state. After statehood the building fell into disuse and disrepair. During recent decades, however, it has achieved new life as the national museum
of the successfully reconstituted Choctaw Nation, whose executive offices are now located in Durant, Oklahoma
. The Choctaw Nation holds its annual Labor Day
festival there, which attracts nationally-known country-western singers and bands, and draws in excess of 25,000 attendees.
The Choctaw Capitol Building
is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More information on the Capitol and Tuskahoma may be found in the Pushmataha County Historical Society
.
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
two miles north of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma
Tuskahoma, Oklahoma
Tuskahoma is a community in northern Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, four miles east of Clayton, Oklahoma.-History:A United States Post Office was established at Tushka Homma, Indian Territory on February 27, 1884. On October 28, 1891, the spelling changed to Tushkahomma. On December 6, 1910 the...
. The Choctaw National Council House is located here, as well as the Old Town Cemetery of Tuskahoma.
A United States Post Office operated here as Council House, Indian Territory from February 6, 1872 to June 30, 1880. Postal operations were later carried on at nearby Lyceum, site of the Choctaw girls’ academy, and Tuskahoma.
During the days of the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
the Council House was located in Wade County, Choctaw Nation
Wade County, Choctaw Nation
Wade County was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory. The county formed part of the nation’s Apukshunnubbee District, or First District, one of three administrative super-regions....
.
After several decades of constitutional experimentation, during which the Choctaw Indians moved their national capital among several locations, the National Council in 1883 authorized construction of a permanent seat of government at Tushka Homma. The name means “home of the red warrior” in the Choctaw language
Choctaw language
The Choctaw language, traditionally spoken by the Native American Choctaw people of the southeastern United States, is a member of the Muskogean family...
, and its spelling has since been standardized as Tuskahoma.
The Capitol completed during 1884. It is 70 feet long by 70 feet wide, and 50 feet high. It consists of two stories and a large mansarded attic. In the fall of 1884 the Indian Journal at Muskogee, Indian Territory wrote, “The capitol building is the finest structure in the Territory…”
Inside the Capitol were rooms for the Senate, House of Representatives, Principal Chief, Supreme Court, and constitutional officers, including the National Attorney and National Auditor.
The Capitol was in use from 1884 until 1907, when the Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
was abolished and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
became a state. After statehood the building fell into disuse and disrepair. During recent decades, however, it has achieved new life as the national museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of the successfully reconstituted Choctaw Nation, whose executive offices are now located in Durant, Oklahoma
Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,877 at the 2010 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 42,416 in 2010...
. The Choctaw Nation holds its annual Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
festival there, which attracts nationally-known country-western singers and bands, and draws in excess of 25,000 attendees.
The Choctaw Capitol Building
Choctaw Capitol Building
The Choctaw Capitol Building is a historic site in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma two miles north of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. The Choctaw National Council House is located here, as well as the Old Town Cemetery of Tuskahoma....
is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. More information on the Capitol and Tuskahoma may be found in the Pushmataha County Historical Society
Pushmataha County Historical Society
The Pushmataha County Historical Society is a historical society devoted to collecting and preserving the history of Pushmataha County, Oklahoma...
.