Five Civilized Tribes Museum

The museum holds an extensive collection of art produced by Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole artists, such as Fred Beaver, Johnny Tiger, Joan Hill, and many others.

It has the world's largest collection of Jerome Tiger originals, including “Stickballer”, his only major sculpture, which is on permanent display in the gallery.

“The object of this organization shall be to bring members of the various Indian tribes into closer communications for acquaintance, mutual helpfulness, inter-tribal social activities, and to promote awareness of tribal history and accomplishments throughout the greater community area.

Those founding women, all of Native American ancestry, chose the name “Da-co-tah” for their club, taken from the Dakota language, because it means “Circle of Friends.” They met the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.

To those pioneer Indians whose courage and fortitude, perseverance and achievement sustained them through travail and disaster and earned for them the name of The Five Civilized Tribes, and who laid the foundation for the State of Oklahoma.

- These words by Grant Foreman were printed at the beginning of a letter postmarked April 15, 1966, which was sent out in preparation for the opening of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum.

They participated in many charitable acts, such as donating canned foods, clothes and shoes to the Murrow Orphanage, as well as making sure they were taken to barber shops for their haircuts.

The Club raised funds to provide charitable services to poor Indian families, and to make donations to the Salvation Army.

Each year competitions are held where tribal members can compete in painting, pottery, gourd art, sculpture, and more.