The Cherokee Phoenix newspaper was printed here using a printing press designed by Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee syllabary.
The 1835 Treaty of New Echota was signed by a minority faction of Cherokees, which the tribal leadership did not authorize.
The Supreme Court building at New Echota was the first of its kind for any Native American tribe, modeled after the United States judicial system.
Missionary Samuel Worcester, who lived on the site, was imprisoned by the State of Georgia for refusing to sign an oath of allegiance, leading to a landmark Supreme Court case.
The site represents one of the only remaining areas in Georgia where the original town grid and layout of the Cherokee capital are still discernible.
New Echota State Historic Site serves as the reconstructed capital of the Cherokee Nation from 1825 to 1838. It was the site of the first Indian-language newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, which printed in both English and the Cherokee syllabary. The site features original and reconstructed buildings, including the Council House, the Supreme Court building, and missionary Samuel Worcester’s home. It marks the location where the Treaty of New Echota was signed, a document that ultimately led to the Trail of Tears. The grounds contain a nature trail and a pond, providing context to the landscape inhabited by the Cherokee before their forced removal. The site is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to preserve the heritage of the Cherokee people in Northwest Georgia.
The interior of the print shop, which houses a replica of the printing press used for the Cherokee Phoenix.
Walk the half-mile nature trail to view the pond and forest landscape common to the Cherokee settlement period.
Watch the orientation film in the visitor center first to grasp the political context before touring the physical structures.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as the terrain between buildings consists of packed gravel and grass paths.
Do not assume all buildings are original; many are historically accurate reconstructions built to replace the originals lost after 1838.
Typically closed on major state holidays and on Sundays and Mondays.
Maintain a respectful tone as the site is a place of historical mourning and significance; do not touch fragile artifacts in the museum.
