Research suggests humans first settled in the Americas between 16,000 and 25,000 years ago. While there are several theories as to how this migration unfolded, the most commonly accepted belief is that early humans traveled from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge, entering first into modern-day Alaska and Canada. From there, it’s postulated that those early peoples came in a series of waves that spread across North America. Eventually, these groups formed their own unique tribes, cultures, languages, and customs.
The Indian Affairs branch of the U.S. Department of the Interior identifies at least 36 established tribes located in the Midwest. These Indigenous tribes include the Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Menominee, Potawatomi, Sioux, and more. While ancient evidence tracing the origins of Indigenous cultures can be found all around the nation, the Midwest is home to several sites that showcase a history of innovation, survival, and creation that—in a way—tells the story of America today. Thanks to decades of preservation efforts and research, your group can visit these very sites and learn about the people who first settled here long before the Americas were colonized by white Europeans.
In Ohio, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are a complex amalgamation of architecture and landscape. Designated as the nation’s 25th UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks include eight locations—seven of which are open to the public. These sites were constructed by the people of the Hopewell culture between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, and they feature mounds in the shapes of squares, circles, and octagons that are geometrically precise and align perfectly with the cycles of the sun and moon. It’s believed the Hopewell people used these structures as places of worship and connection.
“The ancient American Indian Hopewell culture created these magnificent monuments though cooperation and shared beliefs,” says Njeri Mbure, marketing manager of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. “The earthworks and the artifacts found there are clues to the way of life of these unique people.”
According to Mbure, the Hopewell culture is not a single group of people but a spiritual movement that linked many distinct communities. While the Hopewell heartland was in southern Ohio, evidence of their influence has been identified in several locations. Expeditions and pilgrimages are evident from the spectacular artifacts found at these sites, made from mica, copper, obsidian, and seashells—all materials that would have come from regions far away from Ohio.
Each earthworks site, with the exception of High Bank Works, offers educational programming and tour opportunities, provided groups make bookings in advance.
“While the earthworks alone are fascinating, attending a guided tour with an archaeologist, ranger, or other staff member is a great way to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the earthworks,” says Mbure. “Also take time to look around the museums and visitor centers located at several of the sites.”
Credit: National Park Service
In Grand Portage, Minnesota, the Grand Portage National Monument commemorates the partnership between the Grand Portage Anishinaabe and the North West Co. during the North American fur trade. This living history attraction features 710 acres of re-created buildings and Fort Charlotte. On site, groups can explore the Heritage Center, wander the historic fur trade depot, attend educational programming, or watch films on the history of the site.
Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa, offers 200-plus effigy mounds that provide visitors with some insight into the beliefs and customs of 20 different Indigenous tribes. Visitors to the site will find mounds shaped like birds, bears, deer, bison, lynx, turtles, panthers, and water spirits. According to the National Park Service (NPS), the Effigy Moundbuilders also built “linear or long rectangular mounds that were used for ceremonial purposes that remain a mystery.” Some archeologists, however, believe they were built to “mark celestial events or seasonal observances. Others speculate they were constructed as territorial markers or possibly as boundaries between groups.”
While visiting the Effigy Mounds National Monument, your group might participate in a guided tour or an educational ranger program. Tours range from a mile to 2 miles in length, while available programming involves ranger-led discussions and activities.
Credit: Enjoy Illinois
Collinsville, Illinois, is home to the largest pre-Columbian site north of Mexico. Cahokia Mounds World Heritage & State Historic Site features an Interpretive Center and around 2,000 acres of land that includes preserved 80 mounds. The site was eventually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. There is no admission fee, but groups must schedule their visit in advance.
Another place to check out similar structures is Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville, Indiana. Managed by the Indiana State Museum and a part of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, this attraction has a Visitor Center and features a combination of nature, history, and architectural wonder. From 1000 to 1450 A.D., the area was the site of a Middle Mississippian culture town where, according to the NPS, “the cultivation and storage of corn allowed a permanent community to persist.” Today, the site tells the enduring stories of those people. More than 2.5 million artifacts have been uncovered at the 600-acre site, as well as 12 earthen mounds that can be viewed via walking trail. Angel Mounds also hosts a regular lecture series on the history of Mississippian culture, economics, politics, and religion.
For something a little different, consider planning a visit to Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park in Cass City, Michigan. This park protects and interprets the state’s largest-known collection of early Indigenous stone carvings, called “Ezhibiigaadek Asin” in the Anishinaabemowin language. The park includes a mile-long, self-guided walking trail that showcases scenic wildlife and the remains of a 19th-century logging camp. Groups visiting the park also have access to a picnic area and accessible pathways. The park is free to enter and explore.
For an up-close and personal look at life between 1000 and 1300 A.D., bring your group to Aztalan State Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin. This National Historic Landmark contains the remains of an ancient Middle Mississippian village composed of large, flat-topped pyramidal mounds and a stockade around the community. Visitors to the park might enjoy opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, picnicking, and cross-country skiing as they immerse themselves in this fascinating ancient culture.
Whether standing before mysterious effigy mounds or tracing ancient trade routes, your travelers can gain a deeper understanding of the Midwest’s Indigenous heritage by visiting these sacred and educational sites. Each location offers a chance not only to learn but also to reflect on the stories that have shaped the land long before borders were drawn. For tour planners, these destinations offer meaningful opportunities to connect travelers with the region’s original stewards and the enduring legacies they’ve left behind.
By Madeline Fuerstenberg
Main Image: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Chillicothe, Ohio; Credit: Ohio History Connection
