Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois, United States

5Jennifer B 5:00 PM Jul 15, 2021

Very informative and exquisite place!
This place is magical. Just imagining past the pictures inside the museum, it's incredible how they operated that was pretty genius. The mounds, and sun calendar, and the hierarchy. The fact the mounds are still even standing is uber impressive. There's lots of mounds, but there's only a few really worth seeing, and only one that you can walk on. Lots of paths between everything, some paved, some gravel, some more grassy. It's like over 10 miles to do the big trails, so get your hiking shoes ready. Half of the trails are shady, half are full sun I'd say, so be sure you put on sunscreen. The only bathrooms are in the museum. They're very clean. Very clean museum, and everyone inside is very friendly and helpful. They offer evisual and audio exhibits, and self-guided tours. Gift shop is chock full of all kinds of souvenirs and gifts, from face masks to keychains around $7, little Lego type sets to hair scrunchies around $7, to Native American items. Everything inside the cases are much higher in price like going up into the $60s. Plenty of paved parking outside, along the side and back. There is handicapped parking. You are able to drive to both Monk's Mound and Woodhenge, and get closer to them. There is a paved parking lot and picnic tables at Monk's Mound. The other mounds and outdoor exhibits are accessible via the walking trails. There is a picnic area along the farthest side of the biggest mounds by the museum on the other side of the treeline. There are a few benches spaced periodically, for if you get tired. Please don't go on any mounds except Monk's Mound along the trail. Less foot traffic all over the mounds help keep them from degrading. Highly recommend stopping here!

5Josef P 5:00 PM Aug 11, 2021

Surprisingly well made museum. Can walk up gigantic mound!
I was surprised by the high value of the museum. It is one of the museums with a lot of exhibits, prepared very well for a non-expert audience. You can see, hear, and touch, so you don't just have to read a lot and be an expert in the material to enjoy it. They also show a well made move as an introduction (about 15min). I would highly recommend for anyone coming near, even if you didn't hear so much about native American history as was the case for me. The outside area is pretty big. You can walk up the big mound, a nice experience. However, the biggest downside is that modern civilization is within the historic site. There seems to be a private house on the historic site, a big street separates the museum and the big mound, and some dealership is right next to the sun clock. I think America can do better than that for what seems to be a very important historic site.