Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — Attraction in Collinsville

Visited 7/13/23 - A bittersweet visit for me. If your plans are to visit to learn about the mounds, it will be worth while to research online first because there is not enough interpretive resources on site at this time. I've been wanting to visit this site for years and after traveling from the west coast, this was my chance. The mounds of course were spectacular, but as a World Heritage Site and the largest Indian Mound site in the US, I expected better from the organization running it. While I had read on the website that the Museum and Visiter Center was closed for renovations, I was disappointed overall with the park. We visited on a weekday afternoon and there were very few visitors. It looks to be a great walking and hiking park for locals because there are miles of trails (paved, gravel and dirt) that link many of the mounds and also go through beautiful natural areas with wildlife in the meadows and wooded areas. The grounds themselves were clean and well maintained as the area is so large, it looks like the maintenance team would need to mow the grass daily! As a historic site, even with renovations to the visitor center, there should be better interpretative signs, markers and self guided tour maps for those who specifically come to learn about the earthworks and the culture who constructed them and utilized them. We first parked at the visitor center to look for restrooms and see if there was a kiosk with maps for a self guided tour. I could not find any maps there but there was information about downloading a paid app (I think it was about $5). I didn't download it, hoping to not drain my phone's battery so I could take photos, and still hoping to find a paper map. If the app is meant to be the replacement educational resource while the visitor center is closed, it should be free, but also consider that many people visiting may prefer visual rather than audible mobile technology. There is a sign in front of the visitor center/museum directing visitors to restrooms across the highway to the Monk's Mound parking lot so we drove there and parked. The only restrooms are 3 Port-a-potties that are desperately in need of servicing. At this location, there were brochures available that talked about the phone app but again, no paper maps or signs I could take a photo of for a self guided tour of the mounds. I had taken a photo of a map of the hiking trails at one of the interpretive signs at the visitor center so we used that to guide us along the trails. We found markers at most of the archaeological sites, and most of them had decent info, but there were two different numbering systems which was a little confusing without a map of the mounds. I hope to make the trip to the east side of the country again in the future, so I hope to visit and find that the current renovations include improvements to culture interpretation methods outside the visitor center as...

Cahokia Mounds, just a short drive from St. Louis, Missouri, is an absolute must-visit for anyone with an interest in history, archaeology, or simply a desire to explore a truly remarkable ancient site. It's a place that effortlessly transports you back in time, allowing you to imagine the bustling city that thrived here centuries ago. Dominating the landscape is Monks Mound, a colossal earthen structure that is the largest prehistoric earthen construction in the Americas. Climbing to its summit is an invigorating experience, and while the exact number of steps can vary slightly depending on the path taken, there are approximately 156 steps on the main staircase. The panoramic view from the top is breathtaking, offering a glimpse of the vast expanse of the ancient city and even the St. Louis skyline in the distance. Beyond Monks Mound, the site boasts numerous other fascinating earthworks, though many are now simply gentle rises in the land. Some known mound names include Mound 72, a significant burial mound, and Merrell Mound (Mound 42). One of the most intriguing discoveries at Cahokia is the Woodhenge, a series of large timber circles that served as a sophisticated solar calendar. These "woodhenges," predating the more famous Stonehenge by centuries, demonstrate the advanced astronomical knowledge of the Mississippian people, who used them to track solstices and equinoxes, crucial for their agricultural and ceremonial practices. A reconstructed Woodhenge allows visitors to visualize this ancient observatory. Cahokia was once the largest and most influential urban settlement north of Mexico, with a population estimated between 10,000 and 20,000 at its peak, rivalling many European cities of its time. The sheer scale of the community, the engineering feat of building the mounds by hand (basket by basket!), and the complex social structure they represent are truly astounding. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason, offering a profound connection to a rich and often overlooked chapter of North American history. A visit to the interpretive center is highly recommended to fully appreciate the remarkable story of this ancient...

Historical Masterpiece

While on a business trip last year I had the pleasure of staying in the Collinsville area. I usually stay in St Louis across the river, but I heard the Collinsville area was a great place for a visit. I ventured down the Cahokia Mounds after checking in at the DoubleTree Hilton. I have to say I was astounded by the magnitude of the grounds.

My first stop was at the visitor centre, which houses a museum, an interpretive centre, a gift shop and a snack bar. The museum has tonnes of things to look at, a theatre, and many, many artifacts and historical facts on display. The building itself is massive, luckily I was there during the week to avoid the weekend crowds. There is plenty of parking, and a very extensive property with miles of trials to walk with several mounds that you can look at. The grounds are also adjacent to a forest so wildlife is abundant, you will see deer, rabbits, maybe a coyote or two, and plenty of birds if that's your thing. You have a choice as to what paths you can around the mounds, you can do short walks or like me you can walk all through the property. I went on a very warm sunny day, so dress appropriately and make sure you have sunscreen and water.

There is the main attraction across the street, the main mound if you will. It has very long staircase that takes you to the top of the Mound. It can be climbed by people of all ages and fitness levels. The view from the main mound on a clear day is awesome. You can see the other mounds across the street, and you see the Arch of St Louis. You can see for miles and miles no matter where you are on the mound.

This is a great place to learn about the areas history, the people that once inhabited the mounds, and ponder about the great mystery of what happened to the society that once thrived in Cahokia. I would take the time to spend inside and outside, you could easily spend the whole day there. The Cahokia Mounds are well...