After meetings took place the previous fall, a constitution was approved to help unite tribal issues and “promote the common welfare of the American Indian.”

The establishment of the housing authority was a first step in developing housing services for the Chickasaw Nation.

Created in the wake of the 1887 Dawes Act, the commission was established to convince the Five Civilized Tribes to agree to cede tribal title of Indian lands and accept the allotment of lands to individuals.

The bureau was formed to oversee and carry out the Federal government's trade and treaty relations with the tribes.

A favorite recreation area of Chickasaws for generations, the park located in Sulphur, Oklahoma, was one of the first national parks ever established.

The tribe opened the new headquarters with a reception. With the opening of this new building, the tribal headquarters was moved from the Chickasaw Motor Inn in Sulphur, Oklahoma to Ada, Oklahoma.

The society was established by tribal law, working toward the mission of promoting, preserving and protecting Chickasaw culture and family traditions.

The fort was established near present-day Davis, Oklahoma. When built, it was one of the westernmost forts constructed in Indian Territory. The fort served as a supply garrison for several years before it was vacated in 1870, when Fort Sill was established further west. (There were two Fort Arbuckles, this one was the latter fort established)

The closing of the unassigned lands north of the Canadian River, the land run was one of the first steps toward Oklahoma statehood.

The fort was established shortly after Chickasaw Removal to satisfy treaty obligations by the United States to the Chickasaw. It was occupied by Confederate troops during the Civil War, who burned and abandoned it near the end of the war. Federal troops never reoccupied the fort.

Negotiators for the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation and the United States developed this framework agreement to provide for allotment of communally held Tribal lands to individual Tribal citizens as a prelude to Oklahoma statehood. Chickasaw citizens rejected the agreement in a popular vote, but Congress later enacted the Curtis Act in 1898, which required the framework be resubmitted to Tribal citizens for another vote. Much of the substance of the Atoka Agreement and the Curtis Act were later integrated to the 1906 Five Tribes Act.

When news of the battle of Fort Sumter reached Indian Territory, federal troops were already concentrated at Fort Washita. Their commander, Colonel Emory, led his forces north to Kansas while being pursued by 4,000 Texas militia. Confederate troops then occupied the fort, using it as a supply depot for the Chickasaw Battalion throughout the war. No battles took place, and Confederates burned much of the fort when they abandoned it at the end of the war.

By 1977, the Chickasaw Nation was operating multiple businesses. Construction began on a new building in Ada, Oklahoma to house the administration and training for the businesses and employees. In May 1978, a ribbon cutting took place to open the building and mark the beginning of Chickasaw Enterprises.

Following the Union abandonment of Fort Washita and Indian Territory, the Chickasaw Nation declared independence from the United States and supported the Confederacy.

Tishominko was the Chickasaw Nation’s last traditional leader in the Tribe’s aboriginal Homeland. He was an ally of the early United States and served under General Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, before retiring to his home near present-day Guntown, Mississippi. He was a principal signer in several treaties, including the Treaty of Pontotoc in 1832.

After a decade of lobbying and planning, Governor Overton James stood with the then-retired former Speaker of the House, Carl Albert, and opened the first Native American hospital within Chickasaw Nation boundaries.

The tribal reserve east of Ada, Oklahoma, serves as a gathering place for Chickasaws. It has several traditional buildings and is the location of the annual Chickasaw Reunion as well as traditional stomp dances.

Chickasaw Agent John McIntosh Jr.’s farmstead in Natchez, Mississippi, was the site of the first Chickasaw Nation post office with McIntosh appointed postmaster. The second post office was established at his second homestead in Tockshish (meaning “tree root”). Both post offices were frequently utilized by travelers.

The original log house that served as the capitol building for the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory served as the seat of government from 1855 to 1858. The log house was moved to the family farm of Chickasaw Governor Harris. It was returned to the capitol grounds in Tishomingo in the 1930s where it stands to this day.

The first of many Chickasaws to leave the aboriginal Homeland began taking ferries across the Mississippi River. Over the next few years, Chickasaws would relocate to lands agreed upon between the Chickasaw Nation and the United States.

The Chickasaws became the last tribe to surrender at the end of the Civil War. Although suffering hardships after the defeat of the Confederacy, the tribe regained prosperity.

After years of planning and construction, the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center opened, replacing the Carl Albert Indian Health Facility.

The world-renowned tribal cultural center opened after decades of planning and input of Chickasaw citizens. The Chickasaw Cultural Center provides visitors a place to learn and embrace the rich history and traditions of Chickasaw culture and for citizens to explore and celebrate their heritage.

The 7 ½ foot tall bronze sculpture was included in the First Tennessee Heritage Collection. The collection was designed to help tell the history of Tennessee.

In 1979, a draft of a new constitution was developed based on the 1856 version. In the four years that followed, tribal officials worked tirelessly to revise, update and formulate a constitution to fit the needs of a modern Chickasaw society. This was accomplished with the ratification of the official tribal constitution in 1983.

Working to establish a new form of Tribal government following, first, Chickasaw Removal to Indian Territory and, second, breaking the Chickasaw people’s forced confederacy with the Choctaw Nation, Chickasaws gathered at Good Spring (present-day Tishomingo) on Pennington Creek, Indian Territory, to draft their own national constitution. The document they produced, written in both Chickasaw and English, provided for a three-department system of government (executive, legislative and judicial) and articulated specific civil rights for Chickasaw citizens. As part of efforts to revitalize Chickasaw Nation government in the 1970s, Tribal leaders relied on this earlier text to reestablish the form and content of Chickasaw Nation government and self-governance.

Designed by Ted Key, the sunken garden was arranged in a formation of the 11 of the 13 counties that encompass the Chickasaw Nation. Twenty-five tons of Tishomingo rocks were imported from northern Mississippi for the garden. The garden includes multiple monuments honoring Chickasaw history.

The first business owned by the tribe and serving as the tribal headquarters, the travel lodge was an important first step in developing the Chickasaw Nation’s economic success.

Published by Governor Overton James, to connect citizens with their government. It began as a quarterly newsletter and provided updates on tribal affairs.

The Chickasaw Times began operations, featuring news and updates about the tribe and citizens around the world.

The nonprofit organization began with the mission to preserve, promote and protect Chickasaw culture and development. The foundation continues this mission today by supporting education, health, historical and community activities and programs.

Oklahoma statehood is unique in that it almost became two separate states. Leaders of the Five Civilized Tribes attempted to enter the Union as the state of Sequoyah. William “Alfalfa Bill” Murray was selected by Chickasaw Governor Johnston to represent the tribe. The Sequoyah movement failed, but Murray was instrumental in developing the constitution of Oklahoma that was ratified by President Roosevelt.

The Chickasaw Capitol in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, was authorized by Governor Robert Harris, who provided the stone used to construct the outer walls.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Herrington was born in Wetumka, Oklahoma, and was selected by NASA to become an astronaut after spending 11 years in the Navy. He flew on space shuttle Endeavour, logging 330 hours in space and 19 hours 55 minutes of extra-vehicular activity.

With the expansion of the United States, European settlers moved into Mississippi. This led to land cessions that reduced Chickasaw ancestral Homeland to only the northern part of Mississippi. Chickasaws continued living in the Homeland which was now encompassed by the new state, though relations between the Chickasaw and Mississippi was mixed. Chickasaws and Choctaws eventually refused to cede any more of their lands to Europeans, leading to the 1830 Indian Removal Act.

The Spanish conquistador, Hernando De Soto, led an expedition from Florida in search of gold throughout the present-day Southeastern United States. His expedition led him into Chickasaw territory, where he stayed as a guest for a short time. De Soto quickly wore out his welcome, and the Chickasaws attacked De Soto’s camp. The conquistadors were driven out of Chickasaw territory and fled across the Mississippi River.