National Register of Historic Places

Creek Council Tree Site

Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Listed
September 28, 1976
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76001576

About this property

The Creek Council Oak Tree is a historic landmark which represents the founding of the modern city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States by the Lochapoka Tribal Town of the Creek Nation. The Creeks had been forced to leave their homeland in the southeastern United States and travel to land across the Mississippi River, where the U.S. Government had granted them land in what was then known as Indian Territory. In 1836, after their arrival, the Lochapokas chose an oak tree on top of a hill that overlooked the Arkansas River as the site of their council ground. They lit a new ceremonial fire, using coals they had carried on their journey, established a busk ground, where all council business would be conducted. These grounds were also a gathering place for tribal ceremonies, feasts and games. The site continued to be used for these events until 1896. The Creeks still hold an annual celebration of their arrival at this site on October 20.

Location

18th and Cheyenne Sts.
Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
36.13722, -95.99029

Categories

NATIVE AMERICAN
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Creek Council Tree Site

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Creek Council Tree Site listed on the National Register?

Creek Council Tree Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Creek Council Tree Site?

Creek Council Tree Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Creek Council Tree Site?

The period of significance for Creek Council Tree Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Creek Council Tree Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Creek Council Tree Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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