Cahokia Mounds | Collinsville, Illinois
Pre-Columbia, Cahokia Mounds was the largest, most complex urban center north of Mexico. Between 1050 and 1200 CE, Cahokia was larger than London with nearly 20,000 residents. The reasons for Cahokia’s decline are still unknown, but you can learn about the sophisticated layout of the city with plazas and ceremonial mounds arranged in alignment with solar events. Recognizing the global importance of the site, Cahokia Mounds was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. You can visit the grounds daily from dawn to dusk. The museum is currently closed for renovations, but the website has educational materials that will enhance your visit.
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Native American Tourism of Wisconsin
Wisconsin is home to 11 sovereign tribal nations, the largest amount east of the Mississippi River. To promote tribal tourism and economic development, members of the 11 tribes founded Native American Tourism of Wisconsin. The website features art and culture, recreation, and travel activities that support individual tribes. Highlights include the Oneida Long House Village, a replica of traditional dwellings used by the Oneida people centuries ago; the Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl Living Arts and Cultural Center, which hosts gatherings and cultural celebrations each summer; and the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories, history, and heritage of the LCO people. There are also many outdoor activities, including camping, fishing, and hiking that support the tribes. With 4,000 feet of coastline, Frog Bay Tribal National Park is the first national park to be owned and operated by a tribal group.
Effigy Mounds | Harpers Ferry, Iowa
Recognized as a national monument, Effigy Mounds is home to more than 200 prehistoric Native American mounds that were built more than 1,000 years ago. The grounds include burial and ceremonial mounds that are shaped like birds, bears, and other animals, which have a deep spiritual and cultural significance. There are walking trails through forests that lead to the mounds, and visitors can learn more from visitor center exhibits and interpretive signs that provide historical context.
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum | Chicago, Illinois
The Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, formerly known as the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, has recently undergone a transformation to an Indigenous-led museum that focuses on contemporary indigenous life and cultural continuity. The museum focuses on people and tribes from the Great Lake region through rotating exhibits, educational programming, and workshops and talks.
Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center | Miami, Oklahoma
Located 30 minutes from Joplin, The Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center preserves and shares the Shawnee culture, language, and history through exhibits, educational programs, and community events. Located along Route 66, the center is an important cultural base for the Shawnee people and is open to visitors four days a week. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.
