sequoyah birthplace museum

Good museum,and nice buildings behind it. ,But, some of the attractions are out of order (as of the time I went there) , so pretty good museum, also very close to FLSHA (Fort Loudoun State Historic Area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) ~Aquamarine101~

A quaint museum that houses the history of Sequoyah. Many displays on his works of symbols to decipher the Cherokee language. This museum is just down the road from Ft. Loudoun State Park.

We went mid week and the female staff member was more than helpful in guiding us to items of interest to my grand children in the gift shop. the actual museum was interactive and had much more in it for history bluffs and for my 11 yrs. old granddaughter. Her favorite part was outdoors at the blacksmith shop available to all, not just those paying for the museum. I went back with my 8 yrs. old grandson to see the museum due to his interest in languages. We brought the book with the Cherokee alphabet and there is a video in the museum section that gives the correct pronunciation of each phoneme. Allow 20 to 30 minutes minimum for the museum. FYI there are free weekends for the mus3eum in the summer but the cost is under $5 for an adult and less for the children.

I attended the Great Island Festival. They had official cultural ambassadors of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation there dancing and doing demonstations. I feel the museum is very important to history but I feel it is lacking. I feel more authentic things used over the years by Indians should be displayed, even through the last 40 years. More education and information about this museum needs to get out. It needs more funding and support. Don't get me wrong it should not be missed. This was my 2nd trip. And I hope to return.

I grew up within one mile of this museum. I also have Cherokee ancestors. I frankly was bored. I've seen a lot of arrow heads and they are pretty much the same. Nothing there you can not find on line for free. Kids would not enjoy this at all.

Spent two hours at the museum. I was here primarily because of work, however, I had considered bringing my family with me. After spending time here, in its current state I would not recommend children. Much reading is required and attention would be lost quickly. Museum employees are wonderfully helpful and passionate about what they do, however, the faculties need updating. From conversations we had it my understanding that the museum is scheduled to be updated soon.

Wonderful museum! There is a small fee to get in ,and a few machines out of order ,but other than that, it was wonderful!

You really have to be a history buff to enjoy this museum I think. Not modern in it's presentation. Sequoyah was a remarkable person and important historical figure. The staff is passionate about interpreting him and his life, however, but children will tire quickly as a lot of reading required.

Throughout our travels in Cherokee country, we repeatedly heard Sequoyah described as a true genius of the 19th century and as one of the most important of any Native Americans from our country's history. He deserves much better with regard to commemoration. The museum is decades outdated with regard to every aspect of its displays. The video monitors and audio players run constantly and their sound environments overlap and make listening to any one of them challenging. This is not a child friendly museum. It requires close reading and looking at ragged displays with the help of dog eared, frayed guide books that are actually falling apart in your hands. There are some wonderful artifacts and historic objects to be discovered here, but they are poorly shown. Our 10 year old daughter disappeared to wander and browse the gift shop within five minutes. I was able to glean interesting bits of information (after reading about Nancy Ward, a Cherokee 'Beloved Woman' I think she deserves her own museum) but overall I found myself frustrated. I WOULD recommend wandering down the slope outside the rear of the museum to view the burial mound containing the remains of almost 200 Cherokee unearthed during archaeological digs prior to the flooding of so many Cherokee village sites in the late 1970's when the lake was created. This is a powerful memorial to their memory and a reminder of yet another offense done against these people. This site is owned and operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokees. I have no idea where funding comes from, but I would hope their brothers and sisters within the Qualla Boundary at Cherokee, N.C., might assist with a donation from the income from Harrah's casino to make this into something worthy of Sequoyah. If you are time pressured and choosing between visiting this museum or the Fort Loudon state park a few miles away, hands down, choose the Fort.

I had wanted to go for several years and finally had the opportunity. I knew it was a small regional museum, but it is extremely dated and very poorly executed. I love Cherokee history and hoped to learn something new about Sequoyah, but the design and layout is not conducive. The museum is very small and we counted 8, EIGHT! video presentations going on simultaneously so there is no way to follow what any are saying. There is no soundproofing around each station so one bleeds into the next. This is not a kid friendly facility as everything is written and not interactive as in newer facilities. I'm sure the living history days are well done and would consider going back for those.

Much is known, written, and much is visited about the story of the Cherokee on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. But there is also a wonderful story of the Cherokee, and about Sequoyah himself to tell on the Tennessee side of the Smokies. Visit to learn about Sequoyah and his "gift" to language. And visit to be in a beautiful spot on the lake with the mountains as a background.

Kinda pricey for what it is...IMO. It is still a good resource for Cherokee studies and to learn Chief Sequoyah's role in their history

The history is interesting. There is much information that you won't see any where else. The stained glass was once beautiful but several pieces are broken. The guidebook has little in it that isn't on the info cards in the museum.

The story of Sequoyah is a really good one, so it was disappointing to see grainy brodcasts of local TV programs about him. The exhibit was as much geology as history.

The museum was very interesting and the staff was very helpful (even took a group photo of us). If you have any interest in Seqouyah and the Cherokee tribe, this is well worth your time!