Pottery image courtesy of Adam Taylor for the Cherokee Historical Association.

 

Sights & Sounds

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Oconaluftee Indian Village

At the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, North Carolina, you can step inside the world of an eighteenth century Cherokee village and see a dugout canoe under construction, pottery and baskets being crafted, and a blow gun demonstrated. Tours are led by guides, many of them Cherokee High School students, whose interpretation of Cherokee culture is based on both scholarly research and Cherokee oral tradition.

The pathways of the Oconaluftee Indian Village take visitors through rhododendron thickets and along streambeds to houses constructed of woven saplings plastered with mud, as well as to other, more modern dwellings. At the council house and dance grounds, a guide presents a talk on Cherokee traditions.

The living exhibits demonstrate how the Cherokee were responsible stewards of the beloved land of their ancestors and used it wisely. There was little waste of natural resources used in producing items needed for daily living, and reciprocity (giving back when something was used) was the custom.

The Oconaluftee Indian Village is presented by the non-profit Cherokee Historical Association which also produces the Unto These Hills outdoor drama.

Hours of Operation

The Oconaluftee Indian Village is open from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm daily from May 1 to October 24 (2009).

Admission Fees

Admission is $15 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Group rates are available.

Hours of operation and fees are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.

Location

Located near the Mountainside Theater, home of the Unto These Hills outdoor drama, US Highway 441 North in Cherokee.

Oconaluftee Indian Village
218 Drama Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
866-554-4557
(828) 497-2111