Halito! Welcome in Choctaw Country

Sunny Wednesday, still around 90 deg F. A short 30 min. drive to Tishomingo, the former Chickasaw Capital. To our surprise, at both places we visited there, we were expected by two very knowledgeable and interesting ladies - in the Chickasaw Council House Museum, with the full-size original first Council House, as well as in the Chicasaw National Capitol - a remarkable building as well.

Spent more time than expected in the museums and shortened our planned lunch break in Downtown Tishomingo, home of Blake Shelton (pic), the famous country music star. Just went to an "authentic" diner called "Boomarang" and had a delicious Reuben Sandwich and a burger.

Next stop - most remarkable of the day: the new Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant (pics below). Wish we would have had more time here! Spectacular architecture and a very unique exhibition style: with life-size dioramas/scenarios in huge halls, with corresponding sounds and smells, a lot of high-tech, state-of-the-art multimedia tools. Exhibitions inside and outside (village/mound) are excellently depicting the history and culture of the Choctaw tribe, orginally at home in the East (Mississippi) and - as the Chickasaw and many other tribes - removed in 1837 on The Trail of Tears to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

 

Turtle in the Kid's Activity Center (above)

Above:  Ceremonial Mound outside the Cultural Center, were also demonstrations of all kinds - e.g. stickball games - take place.

On to the Choctaw National Tribal Headquarters. We had wondered, why we were sent over, but seeing the complex, we were blown away: architecture (photo below) as well as art inside were spectacular. We got a tour and even met Choctaw Chief Gary Batton. At the end, we were invited to join the tourism reps for dinner lateron.

 

 Before that, we met the whole Dewald family in the Lost Street Brewing Company in Durant. Great guys and delicious beers. Especially, their newly brewed and not yet released "Octoberfest" was exceptional! 

So were the steaks at the 1832 Steakhouse in the Choctaw Casino Resort Durant, where we stayed for the night. Steaks were expensive for sure, but probably the best ones we have ever had. Service was immaculate, too. Even had to select our individual high-quality steak knives before being served, and, Bananas Foster for dessert were served ready for the stage. Back to the room at around 9:30 pm, great room, but too tired to admire enough.