I had been dying to visit the Cahokia Mounds for ages; after all, what history-lover doesn’t want to visit an ancient city? Because the site is so close to the Illinois-Missouri border, it should have been easy to make a quick stop as I returned from my recent trip to St Louis.
However, Google Maps failed and led me to an industrial chemical site in Collinsville, Illinois. My refusal to stop anywhere and ask for directions made finding the park a challenge, and I drove in circles for more than an hour, convinced the historical site had to be somewhere nearby.
After way too much aimless driving and nearly giving up and heading home, I spotted a sign signaling I was close. I’m certainly glad I didn’t give up on my search, as the visit was really interesting. After browsing the visitor’s center and checking out the exhibits, we hiked up the mounds themselves (a much higher climb than it appears to be!) and could even see the St. Louis skyline in the distance.
Who would have imagined one of the largest ancient cities in North America was just a few hours from my home? More than 120 of these mounds were constructed hundreds of years ago and remain mysterious to both historians and visitors. They’re definitely worth a stop if you’re in St. Louis and in the mood for a history lesson.
