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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Emiquon Wildlife Refuge & Dickson Mounds

Labor Day weekend 2014.  The end of summer.  Still trying to plan an autumn vacation, and so far the idea is to drive south down the Mississippi and zigzag a bit to some sites in west central and southern Illinois. 

Birds will be migrating south at that time, so took a ride with Mom to try to find Chautauqua and Emiquon National Wildlife Refuges and to see if they would be worth another look for bird watching in October. Drove past Chautauqua with the idea of circling back on the way home, but the best laid plans...

While driving around Emiquon to find the different access points, stumbled upon Dickson Mounds Museum.  This article explains that the mounds are over 10,000 years old when roaming Indian tribes settled in the Illinois River Valley in large villages.  Mastodons, bison, and elk were found as well as many artifacts of pottery, arrow heads, etc.

The museum is located on the largest mound, which was probably used by high ranking tribal leaders, including a chiefs home.  No pictures from the outside of the mound itself.  Dickson Mounds is located approximately 1/2 way thru the Emiquon Wildlife Refuge from the Route 78 on the west side.

  
 
From the observation deck on the third floor, all of the view on the horizons were part of the Indian city.  Some mounds were visible, and other were obstructed by trees.
 


Back to Route 78 to check out Emiquon. Definitely want to try to get back in October when it should be full of water fowl migrating south.  Just a few of American white pelicans and some gulls for now.
 
The museum is located on the largest mound, which was probably used by high ranking tribal leaders, including a chiefs home.  No pictures from the outside of the mound itself.  Dickson Mounds is located approximately 1/2 way thru the Emiquon Wildlife Refuge from the Route 78 on the west side.

 









 
From the observation deck on the third floor, all of the view on the horizons were part of the Indian city.  Some mounds were visible, and other were obstructed by trees. 
 
 
 
One of three old Plank Road toll booths moved to the Dickson Mounds site.

Back to Route 78 to check out Emiquon. Definitely want to try to get back in October when it should be full of water fowl migrating south.  Just a few of American white pelicans and some gulls for now.





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