Located on the Capitol grounds in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, the Chickasaw Council House Museum holds one of the largest collections of Chickasaw art, artifacts and archive materials. Experience the first Chickasaw Council House built in Indian Territory, artifacts tracing the history and culture of the Chickasaw people and contemporary Chickasaw artwork. Explore our great Chickasaw history and culture at the museum and learn more about the Chickasaw people who helped shape our Nation.

The museum gift shop offers a variety of souvenirs, books, music and Chickasaw language materials. We also have pottery, jewelry, beadwork and other artwork by Chickasaw artists.

A visit would not be complete without exploring the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building and the Chickasaw Genealogy Research Center, both of which are also on the Capitol grounds.

Group tours are available by reservation and are limited to 14 people per tour. To reserve a group tour, please contact the Council House Museum.

Museum hours:

Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed for federal holidays

The Chickasaw Nation Dance Troupe was formed in 1992 to educate, preserve and restore Chickasaw dance traditions. ...

The Chickasaw Explorers Program focuses on educating and training young Chickasaw leaders to identify and record ancient artifacts, ...

The Chickasaw Historical Society was established by tribal law on April 15, 1994. ...

The Chickasaw language is viewed as a gift from the ancestors for all Chickasaw people. Chickasaws believe that the language was given to them by Chihoowa or Abaꞌ Binniꞌliꞌ (God), and that it is an obligation to care for it: to learn it, speak it and teach it to children. ...

Living History Players – The Chickasaw Living History Players theatre group was created in 1998. ...

Living History Play/Stories/Vignettes – New original plays, stories and vignettes based on Chickasaw history, court cases and family stories which are for audiences of all ages are being sought.  They can be short, two to 20 pages or long, 20 plus pages. ...

Open to Chickasaw citizens in grades six-12 and ages 18 and older, this free contest allows writers to exercise and share their creativity....

Genealogy is the science of studying family history and lineage....

Construction began April 1898 on the Chickasaw National Capitol. A stately structure overlooking the town of Tishomingo, it was built of red granite from the Pennington Creek quarry of Gov. R. M. Harris. Granite blocks weighing 175 lbs. per cubic foot were pulled to the Capitol grounds by horses and mules.

Completed in seven months for a total cost of $15,000, the Victorian, gothic-style building is over 8,000 square feet. It was dedicated on Nov. 17, 1898, and served as the Chickasaw National Capitol until 1907.

The Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building was sold to Johnston County in 1910 for $7,500. Negotiations for repurchasing the building were first started by Governor Overton James in the 1960s. Tribal ownership was reclaimed by Governor Bill Anoatubby in 1992 for the sum of $575,000.

Today, the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building serves as a museum and a reminder that the Chickasaw people fought for their tribal identity and independence. Admission is free, and group tours are available by reservation and are limited to 14 people per tour. To reserve a group tour, please contact the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building.

Museum Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed for federal holidays