National Register Record for TAMAHA JAIL AND FERRY LANDING

Historic Name: TAMAHA JAIL AND FERRY LANDING
Current Name: SAME
Address: 9 MILES NORTH AND 7 1/2 MILES EAST OF CITY
City: STIGLER VICINITY            County: HASKELL
Section: 28, NW4, SW4, NE4           Township: 11N           Range: 22E          
Description of significance: THE TAMAHA JAIL AND FERRY LANDING ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TAMAHA, ONE OF THE EARLIEST PORT TOWNS AND TRADING CENTERS IN THE OLD CHOCTAW NATION. THE JAIL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE COMMUNITY CA 1895. IT IS A SIMPLE BUILDING OF CUT SANDSTONE AND IS THE ONLY EXTANT BUILDING OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN. THE FERRY LANDING SITE IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 750 FEET FROM THE JAILHOUSE ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER. THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT RIVER PORT BETWEEN FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS AND FORT GIBSON IN INDIAN TERRITORY. PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT USED THIS FERRY FOR ACCESS TO STEAMBOATS TRAVELING ON THE RIVER. LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, 11/14/1980.

Type: SITE
Historic Function: GOVERNMENT: CORRECTIONAL FACILITY: JAIL; DOMESTIC: VILLAGE SITE; TRANSPORATION: WATER-RELATED
Current Function: VACANT / NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: ARCHEOLOGY: HISTORIC
Area of Significance 2: POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
Architectural Style: NO DISTINCTIVE STYLE
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1825            Original Site: YES
Condition: POOR
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: INTERVIEW WITH MR. GERALD MURRELLE, TAMAHA, OKLAHOMA, 6/17/1979; JOHN W. MORRIS, GHOST TOWNS OF OKLAHOMA, NORMAN: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS, 1977.
Date Prepared: 6/23/1979