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Walk the Cahokia Mounds (UNESCO Site)
Cahokia Mounds: Ancient America Just Minutes from St. Louis
Just 15 minutes from Lehmann House Bed and Breakfast in the historic Lafayette Square neighborhood of St. Louis, you’ll find one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America: Cahokia Mounds.
Located across the Mississippi River in Collinsville, Illinois, this UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves the remains of a massive pre-Columbian city that once thrived between 600 and 1400 AD. At its peak, Cahokia was home to over 20,000 people — larger than London at the time — and served as the cultural and economic hub of the Mississippian people.
The most striking feature is Monks Mound, the largest earthwork in the Americas. Rising 100 feet and covering more than 14 acres, it offers a panoramic view of the surrounding plains and a powerful sense of the scale and sophistication of the civilization that built it.
Visitors can explore walking trails that wind through preserved mounds and open fields, and tour the Interpretive Center, which features artifacts, reconstructed homes, and educational exhibits that bring the ancient city to life.
Whether you’re a history lover, archaeology enthusiast, or just curious about what came before modern cities, Cahokia Mounds is a fascinating and humbling place to visit. And with its close proximity to Lehmann House, it makes for a perfect half-day trip full of discovery.