Park Hill Community Organization

06/11/2026

Wonderful meeting today at Double Springs, a site with multiple layers of Cherokee History, all because of the endless and enduring springs that are here.

In 1839 the Old Settlers, the Treaty Party, and the Ross Faction met here to craft a new Cherokee Constitution. Although the Ross Party removed to the Illinois Campground, an agreement was finally reached, and the Act of Union was signed at the Illinois Campground near Park Hill.

Double Springs is also the site of the Cherokee Freedmen Colored High School, which was in existence at this site in the 1880s and 1890s. The building burned in 1916. The school is long gone but the stories of the struggles and achievements of its students and teachers is really quite moving.

Thank you Milissa and David Earl for sharing your wonderful research with us. It was a fantastic presentation.

05/28/2026

04/13/2026

Saturday, April 11, 2026, PARK HILL Community Organization members and friends enjoyed the annual Spring Field Trip with an excursion to the US Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. Along the way, presenters shared stories and research related to upcoming events on the tour. Everyone agreed that the Marshals Museum was much more than expected and well worth the trip. Exhibits encompassed scenes and information about different eras of the US Marshal Service, from the founding of the United States to today. It was quite remarkable. Leaving the museum, we had a tasty lunch on Garrison Avenue and then took a stroll to the Fort Smith National Historic Site, which includes the territorial jail and Judge Parker’s Courtroom. Back on the coach, we passed by the beautiful Clayton Home, once the residence of Judge Parker, followed by a drive through of Oak Cemetery where many territorial outlaws and lawmen are buried. The drive home was pleasant and peaceful, and we were back in Park Hill by 5pm. It was a good day!

04/06/2026

Reminder! See you this Saturday. There are a few seats left.
There will be presentations on the bus to and from Fort Smith.
Join us!

03/31/2026

We had a wonderful class today learning how to use Newspapers.com. It was very informative. Thank you, Instructor Missy Earl. You are a great teacher! Now we know how to search for our ancestors and historic events using this amazing online database. Thank you, Indian Territory Genealogical and Historical Society for co-hosting this event with PARK HILL Community Organization.

03/30/2026

The Newspapers.com presentation today will be in Room 105 at the NSU library. Enter through the North parking lot doors. The computer lab with the large windows to the right is Room 105. See you today!

03/12/2026

The trip is ON! 10 seats left and going fast...