A multi-million dollar renovation program started Tuesday morning on the historic Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council House in Okmulgee.
Dedication ceremonies were held on the Council House square with a number of tribal officials providing the history and plans for the structure.
From 1878 to 1906, the Creek Council House functioned as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s seat of government in Indian Territory. However, following a series of Federal decrees, tribally-owned buildings and schools in Indian Territory transferred to US governmental control and jurisdiction. It was eventually sold as federal government property to the City of Okmulgee in 1919. In 1961, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
The Muscogee Nation regained ownership of the building in 2010.
When completed it will include exhibits that present the history of the Creek nation and will also serve as a site for tribal governmental meetings. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2018.