Historical Marker Program

Baptist Mission

Adair County
Location: 3 miles north of junction of US 62 and US 59 at Old Baptist Mission Church, Westville vicinity
Coordinates: 36.035342, -94.583661
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Historical Society
Topics: American Indians; Education; Religion/Philosophy; Westward Expansion, 1803–1861

The present-day white frame building contains some of the original timbers of the log church built in 1839. Reverend James Bushyhead, the first supreme court judge of the Cherokee Nation, established the mission, which the Cherokees called Bread Town. The Cherokee Messenger, a religious publication, was printed at the mission beginning in 1844. Bacone College at Muskogee is an outgrowth of the school begun at Baptist Mission.

Note: The original aluminum marker for Baptist Mission is in front of the Old Baptist Mission Church.