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Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville, IL

Photo: Skubasteve834, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFreeOutdoor Adventure

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

30 Ramey St · Collinsville, IL

Why you should go…

Cahokia Mounds preserves the remains of a Mississippian city that flourished from about 1050 to 1350 AD, eight miles from downtown St. Louis. About 80 earthen mounds survive across 2,200 acres, and you can follow self-guided or guided trails among them. The centerpiece is Monks Mound, a 100-foot earthwork covering 14 acres, with a reconstructed Woodhenge timber circle to the west. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.

  • #archaeological site
  • #world heritage site
  • #native american history
  • #mounds
  • #walking trails

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    World's Largest Catsup Bottle

    Free

    You stand beneath a 1949 water tower shaped like a giant Brooks catsup bottle, a restored roadside landmark beside Route 159.

    4.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Riverboats at the Gateway Arch

    Under $25

    Cruise the mighty Mississippi on a classic paddlewheel replica with the Arch towering overhead. Skyline views guaranteed.

    6.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Gateway Arch National Park

    Under $25

    Ride a tiny tram pod 630 feet up America's tallest monument for sweeping views of the Mississippi and the city skyline.

    6.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

    Free

    The regional Federal Reserve bank's downtown St. Louis headquarters, with public economics exhibits.

    6.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Busch Stadium Tours & Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum

    Under $25

    Walk the warning track, sit in the Cardinals dugout, then dive into 11 World Series titles at the team's Hall of Fame in Ballpark Village.

    7.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    St. Louis Central Library

    Free

    Beaux-Arts landmark library in downtown St. Louis, free to explore inside and out.

    7.7 mi awayMore like this