Tahlequah and the Surrounding Oazrk Mountains

At the end of the novel, the grown-up Billy says: "I have never been back to the Ozarks. All I have left are my dreams and memories, but if God is willing, someday I'd like to go back -- back to those beautiful hills.... Once again I'd like to face a mountain breeze and smell the wonderful scent of the redbuds, and pawpaws, and the dogwoods. With my hands I'd like to caress the cool whitre bark of a sycamore." Billy loves the Ozarks. That's no surprise because the Ozarks are a beautiful area!

The Ozarks cover a large area in the south-central part of the United States. The Ozarks include parts of four states: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Make a map showing the Ozark region. Use marker, crayons, or different-colored clay to show the mountains, valleys, and rivers in the area. Be sure to show the borders for each of the four states. Labet major cities, mountains, and rivers. Maps have legends that show what the symbols in the maps mean, they also include a compas to show which direction is North, South, East, and West.

The assignment is open ended, however, look at the grading rubric below to see the necessary components. Use the maps below to help create your map.

Explore the Maps

The Frisco Depot in Tahlequah, Oaklahoma in 1920s.

The Tahlequah depot, for the Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway, which sat near West Choctaw Street and Lee Avenue, was constructed in 1912 as a permanent replacement for the original structure, which was destroyed by fire.

Photo courtesy of Three Rivers Museum

Map of Cherokee county from 1922

Map of the Ozark Mountains Showing Rivers

Map of the Ozark with Rivers and Mountains

Current Map of Tahlequah and the Surrounding Area

Grading Rubric