Cherokee, North Carolina: Chief Henry, World's Most Photographed Indian (Gone)

For over 50 years Chief Henry posed for tourist photos outside of gift shops in this Native American town in the Smoky Mountains. He died in Nov. 2007.

Chief Henry died after 60 years of street corner chiefin'....

My family and I have just arrived home from vacation in Cherokee, NC. Of course, we had to go visit our favorite Indian Chief -- Chief Henry. The price for a photograph is $5.00 nowadays, but it is well worth the cost. It was nice to have my kids get a picture with Chief Henry because my Daddy, my great-grandmother, my grandmother, and I have many pictures with him from the past. I think my first picture was taken when I was 3...I'm now 34 and there are many pictures between those two ages of me and the Chief. What a wonderful treat for the family to see Chief Henry again.

Or, at least, Roadside America.

It's Chief Henry, World's Most Photographed Indian. Year after year, tourist season after tourist season, the Chief draws energy from a mystical source that eludes all other street corner photo braves. Burn down his strip mall, and he's back the next day. Wash him away in a storm, and he stands proud at his soggy teepee even before the sun peeks out.

It's something more than his manitou, more than the magnet jewelry (available for purchase). Chief Henry continues to amaze.

Tipster Esther Coovert reports he is "still posing for pictures, as shown here from October 26, 2002. I asked Chief Henry to pose with George and Lily Smoochie, explaining that they travel everywhere with us. As you can see, Chief Henry was quite accommodating."

Chief Henry, we salute you.