Entries by Lori Belknap

Cahokia Mounds Annual Holiday Market

The Cahokia Mounds Annual Holiday Market will be at the Gateway Convention Center. Over 25 Native American artists sell Native American arts and crafts. Items include: Jewelry, Painting, Sculpture, Beadwork, Ceramics, and more! November 25th through November 27th, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9-5. Gateway Convention Center 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234 (618) 344-9221 / […]

Cahokia Mounds Shirts Are On Sale!

The Cahokia Mounds Gift Shop is having a great sale on all of our shirts! Shirts are on sale from between six and twelve dollars. If you’d like to help support this World Heritage Site during our renovations—and show off your support in style—go to https://cahokiamounds.org/shop/ and search for Shirts. Please specify your desired size […]

Nature/Culture Hike

Join Dr. Julie Zimmermann for the Cahokia Mounds Nature/Culture Hike on October 15. You’ll learn about native plants and animals and how the Mississippian culture interacted with them and the environment. This is a hike through some of the less commonly traveled trails, so make sure to wear appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes suitable for hiking, […]

Join us for the 2022 Fall Equinox Sunrise Observance

On September 25 at 6:30 am, Cahokia Mounds will hold its seasonal Fall Equinox Sunrise Observance. Meet at Woodhenge for a talk about the discovery and significance of this ancient solar calendar. Welcome the rising sun with us. Out of respect for native beliefs, no ceremonies will take place during the event. For more information, call […]

November 17 CAS Talk: “Grandmother—Up in Smoke: Traces of Cahokians in Distant Lands”

At the November 17 meeting of the Cahokia Archaeological Society, Steve Boles, Senior Research Archaeologist for the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, will give a talk entitled “Grandmother—Up in Smoke: Traces of Cahokians in Distant Lands.” The abstract of the lecture can be found below. Decades of research on the birth of the Mississippian culture and […]

2022 City of the Sun 5k Trail Run

Join us Sunday, November 6 at 9 am for the 2022 City of the Sun 5k Trail run. The entry fee is $30. Packet pickup will be on Friday, November 4, from 9-3 or 8 am the morning of the race. Family registration, which includes two numbers and two shirts, is $45. The City of […]

“Cahokia in Chesterfield: The Sun, Moon and Milky Way”

“Cahokia in Chesterfield: The Sun, Moon and Milky Way” is the title of the free presentation by Mark Leach, September 15, at 6 pm, at the Collinsville Memorial Library, at the monthly meeting of the Cahokia Archaeological Society. The public is invited to attend. Nearly 1000 years ago, a vibrant community, related to the great […]

Art of the Mississippian Heartland

Join us as Justin Smock, Conservation Education Representative for Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, discusses the artistic styles and renderings of Mississsippian artwork. Based on the Chicago Art Institute’s exhibit, “Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand,” this presentation will articulate the spread of Mississippian culture and influence as it relates to the North American Midwest and […]

Exciting Things Going on at Cahokia Mounds!

Despite our closure, the team at Cahokia Mounds is still hard at work! Right now, we’re preparing for our annual City of the Sun 5k Trail Run, which will take place on November 6. This run will take you all throughout the grounds: down trails, between the mounds, across the fields, and more! The run […]

Join us for the Summer Solstice Sunrise Observance

At 5:20 am on Sunday, June 19, join us at Woodhenge for this year’s Summer Solstice Sunrise Observance. Learn about this ancient solar calendar and its role in the relationship between the sun and the Cahokians, the people of the City of the Sun. Commemorative shirts will be available for purchase. No ceremonies will take […]

Help support Cahokia Mounds during the Renovation Fund Drive!

During the closure, the team at Cahokia Mounds is asking for your help in continuing our mission to preserve and interpret Cahokia Mounds. We have partnered with Gateway Shirts to bring you exclusive commemorative tees, only available for a limited time. The shirts are $20 and come in grey, neon yellow/green, orange, and pink. You […]

The Nature/Culture Hike is almost here!

At 9am this Saturday, June 11, join Dr. Julie Zimmermann at the Monks Mound parking lot for our Nature/Culture Hike. Experience the flora and fauna that shaped Cahokian culture on this 2 hour hike through some of our lesser known trails. It’s supposed to rain on Friday, so make sure you prepare for wet conditions […]

Hiring for 5 Seasonal Positions

We are currently taking applications for 5 temporary positions for grounds/building maintenance.  Positions are full time but 6 months in duration.  This is a good way to gain park/building maintenance experience and add to your resume.  To apply contact Lori at 618-346-5164, or Lori.Belknap@Illnois.gov.   The deadline to apply is May 19.   Must be 17 to […]

Nature/Culture Hike

Join Dr. Julie Zimmermann for the Cahokia Mounds Nature/Culture Hike on June 11. You’ll learn about native plants and animals and how the Mississippian culture interacted with them and the environment.  This is a 2-hour hike through some of the less commonly traveled trails, so make sure to wear appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes suitable for […]

Cahokia Mounds Indian Market Days are Almost Here

Come to the Gateway Convention Center to visit our Indian Market Days! On Friday, April 29 from 11-5 and Saturday and Sunday April 30-May 1 from 9-5, come visit over 30 Native American artists and peruse their handmade wares. From baskets to pottery to jewelry and more, these artists come from all over the country […]

Walking Tours of Monks Mound Coming Soon

During our renovation period at Cahokia Mounds, we will begin offering guided tours by appointment only on Wednesday April 20. To schedule a tour, call 618-346-5160. These tours will begin at the Monks Mound parking lot and will include an informational talk followed by a tour of Monks Mound and the surrounding area. These will […]

Online Virtual Auction for CMMS and PARC

Interested in supporting the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society and the Powell Archaeological Research Center? Consider visiting our virtual auction at BiddingOwl. From books to paintings to jewelry to gift certificates, your bid will help CMMS and PARC continue our work. Your support is doubly helpful during the site closure.   Visit the auction here: https://www.biddingowl.com/CahokiaMounds

Our very own Mr. Mounds has published a new book about the Civil War

  NEW CIVIL WAR BOOK ON THE 94TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, “THE McLEAN REGIMENT.”               William Iseminger has written a book, just published and available from Amazon.com, From McLean to Mobile: A History of the 94th Illinois Infantry Regiment Volunteers, 1862-1865, “The McLean Regiment.”               His book follows the Regiment from their commissioning in […]

Central Plains Maize Farming and the Cahokian Diaspora

Saturday, March 5, 2022 1pm CST Presented by Prof. Douglas Bramforth University of Colorado Archaeology wonders at great length about how people invented farming but often takes the subsequent spread of farming more or less for granted.  Globally, we know that farming spread in many ways.  Sometimes farmers migrated into hunter-gatherer land and took it; […]

Site Renovations Closure

The Interpretive Center will be closed for major renovations beginning March 1, 2022. The project will begin with replacing the roof of the Interpretive Center followed by the HVAC, fire, security, and lighting systems. A reopen date has not yet been set. We are anticipating a closure of one year or more. The Society will […]