“Sequoyah” was a Native American of the Cherokee Nation. In 1821 he completed his creation of a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible. He is one of the few people in recorded history to be a member of a pre-literate people to create an original effective writing system. After a few years of instruction, the Cherokee Nation began to see the worth of his genius and officially adopted the syllabary in 1825. The literacy rate of the Cherokee quickly surpassed that of surrounding European-American settlers. His legacy lives on today.
This mural is located at the outside entrance of the viaduct adjacent to the Trail of Tears Interpretive Center in Pulaski, Tennessee.