Hunter's Home — Attraction in Tahlequah

After attending the Agricultural Festival, and participating in many of the activities there, such as plowing with horses, winnowing grain, and working in the field, my son expressed great interest in volunteering at Hunter’s Home. I spoke to the site director, who seemed happy about my son’s enthusiasm, then referred me to the volunteer coordinator.

I tried over a course of months to contact the volunteer coordinator, but to no avail. I also tried contacting other volunteers in order to find out about activities. When I visited the site in person, to try to get information, I was personally insulted. I had offered to volunteer also, in order to take responsibility for my son, but was told that it would be inappropriate for me to volunteer. The following day I received this email:

Mrs. Reed, Good afternoon, I hope you are well. I am writing about your request for you and your son to volunteer at Hunter's Home. As we discussed when you came out to the site yesterday, I do not think it will be beneficial to have you volunteer out here after displaying an inability to follow instructions as well as contacting others to circumvent those instructions. I am charged with keeping the site, artifacts, and staff safe as well as uphold the mission of the site. Because of that, it is important that I have support staff who follow instructions and abide by policies and procedures set forth to maintain the safety of the site, staff, and uphold the mission of the site. I am sure you understand the importance of that. Unfortunately, as your son is 12 years old, he will not be able to volunteer at the site, either. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and cannot be under the age of 16. You may come to the site as paid visitors, but we will not be able to have you out here as volunteers. Thank you for your interest in the volunteer program, and I wish you well.

Thank...

We had the best tour of an antebellum home ever at this location. For the first time, enslaved persons were not erased but actually honored throughout the tour as their stories were told and their presence depicted with cutouts. The additional handout of the February 2020 special guide on the enslaved persons of Hunter's Home shows the work that has been done to tell the stories of 24 of the 42 enslaved people. This is far more than a generic tour of another old house. A special shoutout to Maddox and Jessika who went above and beyond to give a special tour to us and my disabled parents. Maddox actually sat out on the veranda to tell my dad (in a wheelchair) everything he couldn't get inside to see. Dad said that he felt like he had been in the house, the detail was so great. They also took our suggestions for increased accessibility to heart and plan to make recommendations accordingly. We could not have been more impressed with these two amazing...

I did a history project at NSU over Hunter's Home and have had the pleasure of talking (through email) with the Historical Interpreter II. She was amazing - sending sources, offering a personal in-person tour, giving an interview, and just all together a fount of information. The fact that she went out of her way to help me when she didn't have to spoke volumes, she is clearly passionate about her work. I also recently visited the site with my sister and nephew and even though the inside was closed, it was still a unique and fun experience. My nephew (who was 4) was actually pointing at the signs and talking about the pictures on them, exploring, and asking questions! The home itself is beautiful, as is the surrounding buildings and land. Not to mention the history of the place! I would definitely recommend seeing it at least once,...