Museum of the Cherokee People

The Museum of the Cherokee People tells the story of the Cherokee people and sets the scene for the Cherokee Heritage Trails. Here the Cherokee community presents its perspective on its own history and culture. Located in Cherokee, North Carolina, about 50 miles from Asheville, the museum's impressive exhibits highlight stories rather than a timeline to explain Cherokee ideas and worldviews.

Cherokee people were involved in creating the exhibit: elders as well as scholars consulted on the script; life size figures were created from full-body casts of local people; and many of the voices in the audio portions of the exhibit come from tribal members. 

Art and craft is part of the story of the Cherokee people. The museum has Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists, who share traditional Cherokee cultural practices such as storytelling, fingerweaving, and wood carving. 

Museum of the Cherokee People and the Museum Store are open daily from 9am-5pm, seven days a week. Ticket sales close at 4pm; a self-guided tour of the Museum takes approximately one hour. The Museum is open daily except the day preceding the Thanksgiving holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. MotCP offers free admission to members of federally recognized tribes and Museum members. Student, educator, senior, and military rates available. Admission to all changing exhibitions are included in the general admission ticket price.

Address: 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee. For more, go to the Museum of the Cherokee People Web site.

For more on Cherokee heritage, see Unto These Hills drama and tour the nearby Oconaluftee Indian Village.

Qualla Arts and Crafts Co-Op

Next door to the Museum of the Cherokee People is the Qualla Arts and Crafts Co-op with the best quality crafts, hand-made with natural materials by Cherokee people since 1946. Find and buy meticulously made baskets, pottery, woodcarving, bead work, jewelry, dolls, blowguns, and other items. Profits are shared with 200+ co-op members, who must be enrolled in the Eastern Band. An exhibit room provides information on crafts traditions through displays of materials, photographs of the process of creation, and examples of work. The Qualla Co-op is open 7 days/week year-round, closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Free admission. 645 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee

Cherokee is just 52 miles from Asheville via I-40 West to Exit 27, then U.S. 19 to U.S. 441 in Cherokee (Just over an hour's drive).