Vision
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The establishment of the Cherokee Heritage Museum and Gallery in 1984 at Cherokee, North
Carolina was an important development in the history of the Cherokee Heritage Collection as
it provided the Abrams the opportunity to develop a close association with the Cherokee
people. This led to the ability to have first-hand experiences within the Cherokee culture and
personal encounters with the artists, thus the Collection grew. However, the Museum
anticipates that as part of its continued growth and development, it will eventually move to a
new location. The current location simply does not provide the space and potential for this
Collection. Therefore, the Abrams and their friends are embarking on a visioning process to
find an appropriate location. One serious consideration is the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
Carolina was an important development in the history of the Cherokee Heritage Collection as
it provided the Abrams the opportunity to develop a close association with the Cherokee
people. This led to the ability to have first-hand experiences within the Cherokee culture and
personal encounters with the artists, thus the Collection grew. However, the Museum
anticipates that as part of its continued growth and development, it will eventually move to a
new location. The current location simply does not provide the space and potential for this
Collection. Therefore, the Abrams and their friends are embarking on a visioning process to
find an appropriate location. One serious consideration is the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
This area is in the heartland of the old Cherokee Nation. Cleveland, Tennessee, located
about twenty-five minutes from Chattanooga, is home to Red Clay State Historic Park where
the Cherokee Nation Council met from 1832 to 1837. In addition, Beloved Woman Nancy
Ward’s gravesite is a mere thirty-five miles away in Benton, Tennessee. Chattanooga is home
to the Brainerd Cemetery, site of the former Cherokee Mission School where several
Cherokee people are buried, and Ross’s Landing, where Chief John Ross (1790-1866)
operated a ferry prior to the Trail of Tears. The Moccasin Bend Archeological Complex is also
in Chattanooga demonstrating evidence of Native American occupation in the area for at
least 10,000 years.
about twenty-five minutes from Chattanooga, is home to Red Clay State Historic Park where
the Cherokee Nation Council met from 1832 to 1837. In addition, Beloved Woman Nancy
Ward’s gravesite is a mere thirty-five miles away in Benton, Tennessee. Chattanooga is home
to the Brainerd Cemetery, site of the former Cherokee Mission School where several
Cherokee people are buried, and Ross’s Landing, where Chief John Ross (1790-1866)
operated a ferry prior to the Trail of Tears. The Moccasin Bend Archeological Complex is also
in Chattanooga demonstrating evidence of Native American occupation in the area for at
least 10,000 years.
The ideal vision of the Cherokee Heritage Museum and Gallery is for a building approximately
50,000 square feet to include space for the entire Cherokee Heritage Collection, several
objects from other tribes, an auditorium for performing arts and lectures, a genealogy and
research library, a gift shop, demonstration and workshop areas, collection storage and
display preparation areas, and office spaces. The Museum’s surrounding grounds would
instantly present the Cherokee worldview concerning fauna and flora, as well as a working
Cherokee garden. The night sky above would lend itself to demonstrating Cherokee concepts
of astronomy and the universe. The Museum would also have land available for pow-wows
and other outdoor events. Meeting space would be available to different Native American
groups who wish to meet there. This entire facility would be much more than a museum. It
would truly be a Cherokee Heritage Center and a world-class cultural facility.
50,000 square feet to include space for the entire Cherokee Heritage Collection, several
objects from other tribes, an auditorium for performing arts and lectures, a genealogy and
research library, a gift shop, demonstration and workshop areas, collection storage and
display preparation areas, and office spaces. The Museum’s surrounding grounds would
instantly present the Cherokee worldview concerning fauna and flora, as well as a working
Cherokee garden. The night sky above would lend itself to demonstrating Cherokee concepts
of astronomy and the universe. The Museum would also have land available for pow-wows
and other outdoor events. Meeting space would be available to different Native American
groups who wish to meet there. This entire facility would be much more than a museum. It
would truly be a Cherokee Heritage Center and a world-class cultural facility.
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