A World Heritage Site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is the largest and most complex archeological site in the United States. It is directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis and was once a pre-Columbian Native American city from c. 600-1400 AD when it was home to the Mississippian people.

At its peak in the mid-1200s, Cahokia was home to more than 40,000 people, a population greater than mid-1200s London, England. The site is characterized by huge mounds that had significance to the people who lived here; a life-size village replica can be explored, and the excellent museum has an informative video, original artifacts, and information about the daily lives of the inhabitants of Cahokia. A self-guided audio tour of the site is available, and there are walking trails and a gift shop.

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.