Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
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Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site[1] is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Illinois.
[edit] Understand
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234; (618) 346-5160. The site is actually the largest Pre-Columbian city north of Mexico and formerly had a population of around 15,000, the main features of the site are the 69 man made mounds, the largest of which is Monks Mound, which is around 100ft tall. The rest of the site is spread around and basically consists of a lot of grass covered mounds that vary in size and shape, several interpretive trails and signage, a reconstruction of the Woodhenge sun calendar, and reconstructions of the palisade/stockade walls. A world-class Interpretive Center tells the story of this ancient city.
[edit] History
UNESCO's reason for inscribing it on the World Heritage List: "Cahokia Mounds, some 13 km north-east of St Louis, Missouri, is the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. It was occupied primarily during the Mississippian period (800–1400), when it covered nearly 1,600 ha and included some 120 mounds. It is a striking example of a complex chiefdom society, with many satellite mound centres and numerous outlying hamlets and villages. This agricultural society may have had a population of 10–20,000 at its peak between 1050 and 1150. Primary features at the site include Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas, covering over 5 ha and standing 30 m high."
[edit] Landscape
Cahokia mounds is in the Mid-Western Plains a few miles from the banks of the Mississippi River in the ridge and swale floodplain known as the "American Bottom." There are numerous lakes, sloughs, marshes and streams, many of which have formed in the old abandoned river channels. Bottomland forests dominate around the water sources.
[edit] Climate
Moderate, seasonal weather, but storms can occur at any time of the year. July and August are hottest and most humid, and January and February are cold, usually with snow. Winter temperatures range from below 32°F to 55°F (0°C to 13°C), with summer daily temperatures of between 57°F to 90°F (14°C to 32°C).
[edit] Get in
The park entrance is Collinsville Road, Collinsville, Illinois about 8 mi (12km) from downtown St Louis. The park is located just off of Interstate 55, Also not far from Historic Route 66.
From St. Louis: Take Interstate 55/70, 64 or Highway 40 & 44 across the Poplar St. Bridge into Illinois. Follow I-55/70, not 64, to Exit 6 (Highway 111). Exit and turn right onto Highway 111 south. At traffic signal turn left onto Collinsville Road. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the right.
Hours: Interpretive Center, 9AM-5PM; Grounds: 8AM to dusk. Park is open daily May 1 through October 31, 2009, and closed Mondays the rest of the yearHolidays Closed: New Year's Day, M.L. King's Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, President's Day, Columbus Day, General Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Holidays Open: Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.
[edit] Fees/Permits
Entrance to the Park is free, though a donation of $4 for adults, $2 for children, and $10 for families is suggested.
[edit] Get around
There are car parks at the visitors centre, Monks Mound and Woodhenge. It is easy to walk around the site. There is an informative self-guided audio tour available from the Visitors Center which guides you around the main points of interest.
Starting in June 2009, iPod audio-visual tour units will be available for rental in the Museum Shop for $5. These will include three outside tour trails (Grand Plaza, Monks Mound, Woodhenge) and a tour through the exhibit gallery in the Interpretive Center
Public Tours During June, July, and August public one hour tours are conducted Monday through Saturday at 10:30AM and 2:30PM, and Sunday at 12:30PM and 2:30PM. The early tour visits the Stockade reconstruction and goes up Monks Mound. The later tour goes through the Grand Plaza to Twin Mounds and Mound 72. During April, May, September, and October public tours are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30PM. No reservations are needed.
[edit][add listing] See
- Visitors/Interpretive Center has a very good introductory video to help make sense of the site. There are also displays of the finds and a recreated life-size portion of a village with houses and mannequins involved indaily activities.
- Monks Mound is the largest of the mounds with nice views over the whole historic site. It is also possible to see central St Louis including the impressive Gateway Arch.
- Woodhenge, about one-half mile west of Monks Mound, is a large post circle that has been reconstructed in its original location and is a solar calendar, with posts aligning with the equinox and solstice sunrises.
[edit][add listing] Do
Go to the web site for a calendar of events at Cahokia Mounds [2].
[edit][add listing] Buy
There is a gift Shop in the Visitor's center with an excellent selection of books dealing with archaeology, Cahokia, and American Indians, as well as Indian-made jewelry, pottery, baskets, and much more.
[edit][add listing] Eat
There are vending machines for drinks and snacks in the Cafe Cahokia area of the Interpretive Center.
[edit][add listing] Drink
There are a variety of bar & grill establishments and restaurants in Collinsville within three miles of Cahokia Mounds.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
The park has no accommodations nor is camping allowed. There are nearly a dozen hotels in nearby Collinsville, Caseyville, and Fairview Heights, IL, and St Louis is very close by with its many hotels.
[edit] Stay safe
East St. Louis, eight miles away, does not have the best reputation but there seems to be no problem at the park.
[edit] Get out
- St Louis would be the best place to base yourself, seeing Eero Saarinen's impressive Gateway Arch, and the Anheuser Busch Budweiser Brewery, the St. Louis Art Museum, Zoo, History Museum, Science Center, City Museum, Magic House, and much more.
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