Five Civilized Tribes Museum

A great little museum in a building on the National Registry that highlights the history and heritage of the five main tribes that were forcibly moved to Oklahoma in the 1800s. You will get the story of the forced removal to Oklahoma. Learn a bit about the daily life of a native American. there is an art gallery filled with Native artists works. There is even a small research room. Also, the gift shop has a wide array of things to check out. Original art as well as books that might be hard to find specific to the highlighted tribes of the museum. The cost is reasonable and military discounts are available. Plan on spending at least an hour. Worth the stop.

The history in this museum was rich, detailed, interesting, and eye catching. It kept the attention of my 10-year-old. It is perched atop a massive hill. We could really imagine Native Americans and settlers traveling through the area, seeing the huge stone building overlooking the entire area below. We loved the fascinating artifacts, and the well-laid-out displays. We left feeling like we knew the Native cultures better than before. Some of the history was saddening, but it's important to be educated on the sad history, too, so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. The people working there were also nice. One of the men gave us extra info, and helped me get started tracking down my husband's Native American family history. The art gallery and book collection upstairs are a must-see! Also, be sure to ask the employees to tell you about the artifacts outside, like the stone pillar that is carved with mysterious drawings.

Interesting & informative. Wonderful staff. Small museum but so much history. Well worth seeing.Visited onWeekendWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entry$6–10

The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is an overlooked jewel. Most Muskogee residents have never been there. It is housed in a building built by the US Government as the headquarters of the Union Indian Agency. "Union" meaning that it centralized the Bureau of Indian Affairs administration of all "Five Civilized Tribes". Built in the 1870's, the building alone is worth seeing. They have a great art collection. Outstanding, by small city standards. You'll find important works by most of the important Native Artists of the last century, and by contemporary artists. But the real treasure you will find there are Artifacts of the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears that it caused. Letters from missionaries who did not have to endure the trail but did so rather than desert their congregation. Everyday objects carved while interned in the miserable concentration camps as those to be removed were rounded up. But out of tragic circumstances and deplorable treatment come stories that reaffirm your faith in humanity and our capacity to love. A hidden treasure.

There was a mixed media art competition on display in the gallery upstairs. I wish I spent more time studying the information in the displays. Lots to learn and absorb.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entry$1–5

Interesting to learn the history of the native Americans in the area. Their art work is wonderful

This place was a real disappointment!! It’s the worst museum that I’ve ever been to…. When we took our first step inside we were immediately hit by a horrible moldy musty smell … very little art and what was there wasn’t that good except for a few pieces…many rules can’t take pictures but honestly who would want to … the Choctaw Nation museum in Tuskahoma is FREE and much nicer … we were charged us $5 a piece to get in … it was a horrible experience… we only stayed 15 minutes because there’s nothing to see and we were getting sick from the smell. !!!

I love to be able to visit museums like this. The old saying, "the truth hurts" is accurate. If seeing the history of a people so abused doesn't make you sad and think, "yes think" about how you hope and pray it will never happen again, then your heart is cold. Thank you Muskogee community for making this available to all of us!Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNoPrice for adult entry$1–5

Traveling with the Tulsa Creek indian community center today. Eight of us traveled to Honey Creek battlefield near Checota, OK. From there we drove back to Muskogee to Three Rivers Museum in downtown Muskogee. It was nice, a lot larger than it looked from the outside. Mostly early Muskogee artifacts plus a lot of Indian heritage arts and lore. Then on to the Five Civilized Tribes Museum near Honor Heights Park, by the Veterans Hospital. This was the one we came to see. It was filled with Five Civilized Tribes relics and artifacts on the 1st floor with a few pieces of art. Then we went to the 2nd floor. There was a art exhibit to see and paintings by well known artists and some by contemporary artists. It was great. If you're interested in Oklahoma Indian history, this is one of the places you should visit. It was a good day for 8 seventy and eighty year old youngsters. We all loved it.

They were very knowledgeable and factual about the tribes that were pushed out of their homes. The fact that they were lied and moved to conditions that were not habital was not great.Visited onWeekdayWait timeNo waitReservation recommendedNot surePrice for adult entry$1–5