The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 28th of 1974 (ref #74001656)
Cherokee National Prison Museum website
"The Cherokee National Prison was the only penitentiary building in the entire Indian Territory from 1875 to 1901. It housed sentenced or accused prisoners from throughout the territory and was created for the purpose of reformation as well as for punishment for offenders."
“CHEROKEE NATIONAL PRISON MUSEUM.”
Visit Cherokee Nation | Cherokee National Prison Museum, Cherokee Nation,
April 16, 2015
visitcherokeenation.com/ATTRACTIONS/Pages/cherokee-national-prison-museum.aspx.
The Cherokee Nation Prison was built in 1874. Cherokee Tribal Courts were abolished by the Curtis act of 1898. Cherokee County purchased the prison in 1904 for use as a jail.
The sandstone structure once stood two stories tall, with a basement. Under the county's care, however, the building was condemned, and the top floor was removed in 1925 during a renovation.
Cherokee County in 1979 sold the building back to the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation began restoration of the property in May of 2010, where it opened the Cherokee National Prison Museum the following year. A timeline of these events and others can be seen below, and at the Prison Museum, along with items, photographs, and descriptions surrounding the past of this historic location.
"The Cherokee National Prison Museum includes a timeline of the prison’s history.
1851 - The Cherokee National Council allocated $1,879 to build a prison, but funding was insufficient to begin immediately.
1873 - The council appropriates $6,000 from Cherokee Outlet lease fees to build the prison.
1874 - A call for contractors is published in the Cherokee Advocate.
1875 - Construction is completed.
1875 - The Cherokee Advocate moves operations to the prison for a year after the Cherokee National Supreme Court building is damaged by fire.
1876 - High Sheriff Samuel Sixkiller orders the construction of a 10-foot high fence, a garden and mechanical shops.
1900 - The Cherokee Nation pardons all convicted in its courts and all incarcerated prisoners after passage of the Curtis Act of 1898, which essentially abolished tribal courts in Indian Territory.
1903 - After fire razed the Cherokee Orphan and Insane Asylum, the prison’s facilities are adjusted to allow housing of displaced persons.
1904 - Cherokee County buys the prison to serve as its jail.
1925 - The third floor of the prison is removed during a renovation after the building was condemned.
1974 - The facility is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
1979 - Cherokee County sells the building back to the Cherokee Nation.
1986 - The Cherokee Nation Library and Adult Learning Center is housed in the building.
2010 - The Cherokee Nation begins a renovation of the building.
2011- The Cherokee National Prison Museum opens."
"Cherokee National Prison Museum"
http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/online_exclusives/cherokee-national-prison-museum/collection_47d9ad55-7fd1-5b2b-b83c-f4fe74825313.html
"Tribe begins restoration of Cherokee National Prison building"