Cherokees Hanging Out: Photos of our Car Trip to Cherokee, CA
Saturday, November 9th was a beautiful day in Cherokee, California. The weather was perfect and clear. Fourteen of our CNCV argonauts (Odell and Nancy Landers, Martha Blackbird, Jackie Robbins, Patrick Shinn, Elena Hansen, Jeremy and William, Ganel and Gerrit Fenenga, Mark and Rachelle Brackett, and Liz and Mike Webb) met up in Oroville at "The Cow Cafe & Grill" for lunch.
Mark and Patrick led the way as our trail masters. Cherokee is located approximately 40 miles north of Grass Valley. It's best to go through Oroville rather than Grass Valley. I’ve been in contact with James Lenhoff, local historian and long time Cherokee Museum Curator and operator. James recommended after our visit in Cherokee and the Old Cherokee Cemetery, we also drive a few minutes more up to the next old mining town, Oregon City.
We all walked in the footsteps of the Cherokee miners that came for the California Gold Rush in 1850. This Cherokee encampment was named Cherokee by Welsh miners. First stop, we walked around the grounds and explored the remains of the Cherokee bank, post office, and museum, taking photos. The museum is currently closed having suffered damage by forest fires. We explored the grounds. Jackie read aloud the text on the historical stone marker for all to hear. The monument text is loaded with fascinating information. Important dignitaries listed include Cherokee Nation Chief W. W. Keeler, as well as stones from Cherokee Nation. Next stop was Cherokee Cemetery. We walked around the new and old sections of the cemetery continuing our explorations.
After the cemetery, we trekked up to Oregon City. When we arrived, a young couple was wrapping up some restorative painting and restoration on the Old School House, used for social events and meetings, still in use today. They even have an occasional movie night which is projected outside on the back exterior wall. The young woman, Sarah, gave us her father’s card, Larry Mauch, Historical Research Primary Sources for the Butte County Historical Society. I contacted Larry, he provided us the Oroville Register newspaper’s reporting on the 1967 Cherokee Monument Dedication Ceremony. Be sure to read the included monument text and newspaper report.
It was a fun an interesting day, always enjoying the company of our fellow Cherokee brothers, sisters, and families. Cherokees love hanging out.
— Mike Webb
