As the largest prehistoric Indian site north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds covered about 4000 acres and included at least 120 mounds. The State of Illinois now protects 2200 acres of the central portion of the site and 70 of the remaining 80 mounds. From AD 800-1000, the Mississippian culture began as highly structured communities arose with a complex ranked social and political system. After AD 1050, Cahokia became a regional center, sprawling over six square miles with a population of about 10-20,0000 people. It was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1965, and in 1982, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated Cahokia Mounds a World Heritage Site for its significance in the prehistory of North America.
Official Great River Road Interpretive Center
The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The scenic route passes through 10 states and hundreds of river towns. Learn more >