Wednesday, May 20, 2015
How great is it having a camper? It's great! Nothing like having your own B&B on wheels. Having Colt gave me the chance to go to Cahokia Mounds State Historic site. It's too far for one of my usual day trips, but it was within an hours drive from the campground.
I could have spent all day here, walking around the grounds, doing all of the trails, and spotting all of the wild life, but the weather was not cooperating and continued with a steady rain all day.
Information from the interpretive center
Map of other historic sites within the US.
Artist rendering of the grand plaza. Cahokia is the largest Mississippian city found to date and was almost lost because of highway construction around St. Louis.
Animal effigy found in Marquette, IA ~ enlarged to show detail
Sun calendar "Woodhenge"
Artist depiction of Woodhenge during a solstice
The medicine man hut
The grainery
Home
The story of this area is a boy stealing his little sister's corn husk doll. She is chasing after him and the family (wild) dog is barking at them. Kids haven't changed much.
Cahokia Mounds and wildlife
The grand plaza with one of the twin tomb mounds in the back.
Part of a re-built stockade fence that used to encompass the entire settlement.
Replica of Woodhenge (not in original location)
The posts with white mark Spring, Summer and Fall equinox (furthest to closest).
View south to Monks Mound
Monks Mound ~ where chief lived and where meetings and worships were held.
View looking north and west from the top of Monks Mound with St. Louis in the distance.
Looking north towards Woodhenge
Looking west back towards the grand plaza and one of the twin mounds
A terrace on Monks Mound which was used later by settlers
View inside of one of the rebuilt stockades. Signs indicate there were multiple versions of these, round and square. The cross beams indicate where a floor would have been for fighting off enemies.
Purple martins at the interpretive center
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