National Register Record for CHICKASAW NATIONAL CAPITOLS

Historic Name: CHICKASAW NATIONAL CAPITOLS
Current Name: None
Address: CAPITOL AVENUE BETWEEN 8TH AND 9TH STREETS
City: TISHOMINGO            County: JOHNSTON
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THIS NOMINATION INCLUDES TWO FORMER CHICKASAW CAPITOLS, A LOG BUILDING BUILT IN 1855 AND A LARGE STONE BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1896. THE LOG BUILDING HAS BEEN ENCLOSED WITH A COVER BUILDING AND IT NOW SERVES AS A MUSEUM NEAR THE NEWER BUILDING. THE LOG CAPITOL IS APPROXIMATELY 14x24 FEET AND THE LOGS WERE HAND-HEWN. IT HAS A HIPPED ROOF. THE LARGER STONE CAPITOL IS RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE IN STYLE. IT IS A THREE-STORY SQUARE BUILDING WITH A PROMINENT CUPOLA. THE LOG BUILDING SERVED AS A CAPITOL FROM 1855-1858 AND THE STONE BUILDING SERVED AS THE CAPITOL OF THE CHICKASAW NATION BETWEEN 1896 AND 1907. (A SECOND, BRICK CAPITOL WAS BUILT IN 1858, BUT LATER BURNED). AFTER STATEHOOD, THE STONE CAPITOL WAS PURCHASED BY THE COUNTY AND SERVED AS THE JOHNSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CHICKASAW NATION IN 1989. IN THE MID-1990S, THE CHICKASAW NATION EMBARKED ON A REHABILITATION PROJECT, WITH THE GOAL OF RETURNING THE THIRD CAPITOL TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER 11/5/1971.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: COURTHOUSE
Current Function: MUSEUM
Area of Significance 1: ARCHITECTURE
Area of Significance 2: POLITICS / GOVERNMENT
Architectural Style: NO DISTINCTIVE STYLE/RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE
Architect: SHANNON, J.A., ARCHITECT; SPARROW, CONTRACTOR
Year Built: 1855            Original Site: NO/YES
Condition: FAIR
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: ELMER L. FRAKER, "CHICKASAW COUNCIL HOUSE", OFFICIAL MUSEUM LEAFLET, 1971; FRANCIS THETFORD, " THIS IS OKLAHOMA: JOHNSTON COUNTY", OKLAHOMA'S ORBIT, OKLAHOMA CITY, JAN 29, 1961, P.8;
Date Prepared: 4/1971