The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council House: a continuation of architectural traditions

Summary

Public architecture is reflective of society. Council houses were an important example of public architecture during both prehistoric and pre-removal times and were prevalent across the Southeast. The original purpose of these council houses was to provide a place for the people to conduct official meetings in the winter months. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council House in Okmulgee, OK is an example of post-removal public architecture that was a continuation of past architectural traditions, as well as a cultural adaptation to a new situation. This council house was constructed as a meeting place for a nation attempting to retain sovereignty in the wake of removal and war. Life was significantly altered by removal. The construction of the council house in Okmulgee, although not identical to pre-removal council houses, was a way to maintain a connection to the pre-removal world and demonstrates cultural continuity in its use as an important meeting place for the nation in Indian Territory.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage