Saline Courthouse
The Saline Courthouse is located approx. 8 miles east of Locust Grove on Hwy 33/Scenic 412, to the Mayes/Delaware County line-County Rd 449. Go south approx 1 mile. The courthouse in on the east side of the road. When taking the Cherokee Turnpike East exit at the Rose/Leach exit and turn left. Follow road (Hwy 33/Scenic 412) to Mayes/Delaware County line (County Road 449). Website www.salinecourthouse.org

The duty of the district court was to hear criminal cases not involving the death penalty, and also civil matters involving less than $100. The current courthouse in Saline today was built in 1884, however it is not the first Saline Courthouse. In fact, there were three total. The first courthouse in the Saline district was built in 1839 and served until the American Civil War, when it was replaced by a second courthouse that served until the mid 1880's. Both of these buildings were located on sites other than the where the current building stands.

To accommodate judicial reforms within the Cherokee Nation in 1876, larger judicial buildings were needed therefore a third, and final, courthouse was built in the Saline District in 1884. Records indicate the construction was completed in 3 months time. Immediately upon construction completion, the courthouse began trying it's first cases. The new building became the center of public activity. Crowds flocked to the courthouse to be jurors, witnesses or just onlookers. This created a demand for amenities on the property and community members began to bring their goods to sell to the public outside the courthouse. The court quickly became the largest producer of income in the Saline District. Other activities included burials at the TeeHee cemetery located on the property.

Over the years the courthouse was in business, there were many fights and gun battles on the property, the most famous of which is called the Saline Courthouse Massacre. On September 20, 1897, the owner of the general store on the property, Thomas Baggett, had closed up his shop early for the evening. Shortly thereafter, he was called to his window by newly elected Sheriff Dave Ridge pleading Baggett to open his shop so Ridge could get supplies for his wife. Baggett refused and an heated discussion between the two ensued. As they were talking back and forth, a shot rang out and a bullet took the life of Baggett. Ridge tried to get into the store to help, but as it was locked, he could not do so and instead headed for home. On the way home, Ridge ran into two men on a trail, one of which was Sampson Rogers. According to witness reports, Rogers questioned Ridge about his involvement in the shooting of Baggett and Ridge accused Rogers of doing the actual shooting, claiming he saw Rogers pull the trigger. Rogers flew into a rage and struck Ridge on the head with a blunt object. Ridge died shortly after being struck. Upon hearing of the killings in Saline, outgoing Sheriff Jesse Sunday, who was 10 miles away guarding some prisoners, rushed back to the scene of the crimes to determine what happened. He deputized Cooie Bolin along the way and the two of them decided to go to the Jim Teehee home, which was located very near the crime scenes, to see if anyone there had seen or heard the murders. Sunday and Bolin encountered two men on the porch at the property, one of whom was Martin Rowe. Sunday questioned Rowe about the murders and Rowe replied that he had no knowledge of them. Sunday and Bolin went to leave in different directions as they had split on approach to surprise any occupants. Deputy Bolin stated that he heard Rowe call out to Sheriff Sunday claiming he had something to tell him. As Sunday untied his horse, a shot rang out and Sunday was hit. Rowe and his friend ran from the scene and Bolin tried to find and help the Sheriff. He died the following night. Officers tried to pursue Rowe and he was captured and tried, but eventually escaped and fled to Texas. There are some disputes about the accuracy of events in this story, and also whether or not it deserves to be called a massacre. The truth of the matter is that Baggett, Ridge and Sunday, all good men, lost their lives that day at the Saline Courthouse property.

In 1898, all district courthouses were shut down when the Curtis Act was passed by the United States. The act forced the Cherokees to dismantle their court systems and government, and the district courthouses fell to ruin and were eventually auctioned off to the highest Cherokee bidders in 1902 by the National Council. The purchaser of the Saline Courthouse enlarged the building, doubling its size and added a porch. The building changed hands many times throughout the years and in 1970 the property was purchased by the State of Oklahoma Industrial and Park Department. In 1976 the Saline Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the late 1980's it was reacquired by the Cherokee Nation.

In October 2005, the Cherokee Nation developed a master plan for the Courthouse and named the property the Saline National Park, the first national park in the history of the Cherokee Nation. The courthouse itself will undergo restoration and preservation, as well as the Spring House on the property. Outdoor classrooms, parking and walking trails will be built to accommodate tourists.