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CHEROKEE, N.C. — The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has created audio tours to give visitors a new, high-tech way to experience the permanent exhibit: “The Cherokee Story: 13,000 Years.”  Tours are narrated by the character of a Cherokee grandmother, and are available in English, Spanish, and German languages.  Tours in English are voiced by DeLanna Studi, an actor from the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma known for her roles in "DreamKeeper" and "Edge of America."

The exhibit follows the Cherokee people and their ancestors through time, beginning 13,000 years ago, when mastodons roamed these mountains, through technological and cultural changes, forced Removal from the mountains, to the present day.  The new audio tours provide commentary, dialogue, and music that enhance visitors’ experience and last about forty-five minutes.  Beginning at the Box Office, visitors can rent a handheld device with speaker or earphones.  The tour plays automatically throughout the exhibit, with the option of tapping to learn more in every zone.

The Museum worked with AudioConexUs of Ontario, Canada, to create the audio tours. They have created audio tours for national parks, tours, museums, cruise lines, and others internationally. The project was funded by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.  Summer hours extend closing to 7 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Admission is $11 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-13, and free for children 5 and under. Discounts are available for AARP, AAA, military, and groups.  For more information, contact Charla Reed, Box Office Manager, at 828 497-3481 x 1003 or email: charla.reed@cherokeemuseum.org.

About the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians:
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is a sovereign nation with more than 15,000 enrolled members and is the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians makes its home on the 56,600-acre Qualla Boundary in five Western North Carolina counties about an hour west of Asheville and at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.