The Cherokees, who called themselves the Principal People, formed the largest nation in the southeast. East Tennessee is part of the Overhill region, one of the three geographical groups of the Cherokee Nation from the 1700s. The Cherokees had developed a complex society long before the Europeans came to America. Following decades of conflict, thousands of Cherokees were forced to leave their homeland in 1838 as part of the deadly historical event known as the Trail of Tears.
Visit the Museum today to learn more about the Native American people and their history from the Paleoindian Period through the aftermath of the Trail of Tears. Artifacts in this exhibit include early primitive tools like projectile points, models of Cherokee architecture, and traditional clothing and accessories.