The Cherokee once commanded much of the southern Appalachians. Archaeological evidence, early written accounts, and the oral history of the Cherokee themselves demonstrate that Cherokees controlled more than 130,000 square miles. The original Cherokee homeland has been altered over the past 200 years, with new roads and towns, and vanishing chestnuts and buffalo, but the shape of the hills and valleys remain much the same as Cherokees experienced them for thousands of years. And Cherokee people are still here. They live in the modern world but many still sing the old songs and practice the old ways. We invite you to explore part of the Cherokee homeland in Tennessee and North Carolina. Museums and historic sites will reveal the long and compelling Cherokee history, while festivals and events make it possible for you encounter Cherokee people and traditions.