Aquohee District Courthouse

The Aquohee District Courthouse was the judicial hub for most of the Cherokee communities in southwestern North Carolina, serving as the de facto “capital” of the district. It was also the council house for Hiwassee Town. This site was a center of opposition to Removal. In September 1835, US treaty commissioner John Schermerhorn tried to convene a conference here to negotiate a removal treaty, but Cherokees refused to attend. After this failure, Schermerhorn organized the meeting at New Echota that led to the infamous Treaty of New Echota in December 1835.