The Cherokee Historical Association, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1948 and is located in the heart of the Cherokee Cultural District in Cherokee NC. Our mission is to “perpetuate and preserve the history and culture of the Cherokee People.”

We accomplish our mission through the operation of two cultural attractions; the Oconaluftee Indian Village living history site and the renowned outdoor drama Unto These Hills.

Unto These Hills is one of the nation’s foremost outdoor dramas. Debuting in 1950, Unto These Hills has been performed for over six million visitors in its over 60 years of operation.  From the first contact with Europeans to the infamous and tragic Trail of Tears, Unto These Hills tells the triumphant story of the Cherokee through the eons.

The Oconaluftee Indian Village is a time machine transporting  you back to a living, working Cherokee Village of the 18th Century. Here, centuries old techniques for survival have been passed down from generation to generation and preserved in this living history site.

Welcome to Cherokee...our home.