The small, friendly town of Sallisaw, OK is steeped in Native American history. Despite its low population of only 9,000 residents, there are a couple of great museums and other local attractions of interest to visit, both in town and nearby. Let’s take a look at the best of them.
Sequoyah’s Cabin Museum
One of the most celebrated individuals in Native Indian history once lived in Sallisaw. His name was Sequoyah, and he created the written alphabet used by the entire Cherokee Nation. You can visit Sequoyah’s cabin, which was built in 1829 and is now a National Historic Landmark.
When you see it, you gain a real sensation of stepping into the past, as the cabin has been maintained exactly as it was almost two centuries ago. The cabin sits within a museum full of other interesting items from that time.
Sequoyah Wildlife Refuge
Right beside the town, you’ll find a beautiful wildlife refuge. It’s a habitat formed in 1970 to give refuge to migratory birds and waterfowl. The refuge is very large and sits between the Kerr Reservoir and Sally Jones Lake. It’s a great place to visit if you want an escape into the great outdoors.
As you can imagine, this broad stretch of scenic wetland is teeming with birds and other kinds of wildlife. In the refuge, there are also areas of grassland and hardwood forest to explore, where you can catch sight of rabbits, muskrats, bobcats, and many different types of amphibian creatures.
14 Flags Museum
This charming museum pays tribute to the colorful history of the region, with flags representing the 14 different peoples and nations who settled or claimed the land at one time or another, which included Great Britain, France, Mexico, and Spain, as well as many Native Indian nations.
The museum is spread across a disused train depot and three ancient log cabins, the oldest of which is old enough to have survived the civil war. There are exhibits and artifacts from the earlier inhabitants, and also items from the infamous Trail of Tears. The train depot displays reminders of the vast importance the railway once played in shaping the region’s communities and history.
Parrot Island Waterpark
If you’re in the mood to escape the heat with some splashing, diving, sliding fun, head to Parrot Island Waterpark. Just 5 miles away, in neighboring Fort Smith, you’ll find this tropical island oasis which has 370,000 gallons of water in its many pools and slides.
There’s a giant wave pool, an activity pool, a lazy flowing river, and a themed play area pool for younger children. Enjoy refreshments and snacks at the on-site restaurant, and you can even rent out party pavilions or cabinas to stay in. It’s a real favorite with the locals.
Fort Smith National Historic Site
For an even deeper and more fascinating dive into this frontier region’s storied past, pop into this large museum beside the river in Fort Smith. Here, you’ll learn stories of Native Indians, soldiers, outlaws, and lawmen, with intriguing scandals aplenty. It’s an experience both fun and educational for all the family.
When you’ve enjoyed a terrific day out, pay a visit to Blue Ribbon Chevrolet, the area’s primary provider of top-notch, low-priced vehicles.
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