The Nowata County Courthouse is listed as an historic site.

During the years of the gold rush in California, many Cherokees went to California in search of gold. Most of the later Cherokee parties met at the Grand Saline to organize their expeditions. Crossing the Neosho (Grand) River at this point, they traveled in a northwestern direction through Mayes, Rogers and Nowata counties, on through Kansas. This road, known as the Cherokee Trail, continued north through Colorado; west through Wyoming, Utah and on to California. In the northern part of Nowata County, the name of California creek is still a reminder of the time, oh so many years ago when emigrants traveled the California trail in this section.