| Name | Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site |
| Address | 30 Ramey StreetCollinsville, IL 62234 |
| Brief Description | Largest prehistoric Indian site in the US |
| Type | Attraction |
| Category | Historic Site |
| Description | CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE
COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS
Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian Indian settlement north of Mexico and included the greatest concentration of mounds (120), at the center of which is 100 foot-high Monks Mound, the largest ancient earthwork in the Americas. The site was occupied from A.D. 700-1400, primarily by the Mississippian culture from A.D. 1000-1400, covered nearly six square miles, and at its peak from A.D. 1050-1200, may have had a population of 10,000 to 20,000. Designated an Illinois State Historic Site, Cahokia is also a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visitors may hike a trail past several of the remaining mounds and village areas and climb to the top of Monks Mound. They can also view a reconstructed portion of the stockade wall that surrounded the central portion of the metropolis, and a reconstructed ‘Woodhenge” or solar calendar.
A world-class Interpretive Center tells the story of the site and the people who built it with audiovisual presentations, artifacts, graphics and dioramas, including a life-size village recreation. It also features an excellent gift shop with many Indian-made items, as well as books, artifact reproductions, posters and T-shirts.
The Interpretive Center/Museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday (closed Mondays and Tuesdays except Monday summer holidays, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, but is usually open 7 days a week from May-October. Check the web site or call for confirmation of hours. The site offers year-round special events. For more information or a calendar of events, call 618-346-5160 or consult the web page at www.cahokiamounds.org.
Guided tours are available seasonally but self-guided tours can be done year round through the free loan of a cassette player, the purchase of a guidebook for $1, or the rental of iPod Touch units for $3. All of these include the three outside tour trails and the iPod also includes videos along with the narration as well as an exhibit gallery tour. There is no admission fee but a suggested donation of $7 adults, $5 seniors, $2 students, $15 families. |
| Phone 1 | (618) 346-5160 |
| Email | cahokia.mounds@sbcglobal.net |
| Handicapped Accessible | Yes |
| Time Allowance | 2-3 hours for both museum and grounds |
| Website | www.cahokiamounds.org |
| Social Links |  |
| Request Brochure | Cahokia Mounds Site Brochure |
| Last Updated | 12/15/2017 |
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