Cahokia: An Ancient City at the Heart of America

Join us for our first installment of our partnership with the Smithsonian Rural Initiative. We will be hosting 12 sessions the Smithsonian Armchair Traveler Series, starting with "Cahokia: An Ancient City at the Heart of America" on Wednesday, September 16th, and 5:30pm.

Please register for this event by calling 570-622-8880, or emailing [email protected]

Once the largest urban center north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois, stands as one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in North America, reshaping the understanding of pre-Columbian civilization. At its peak, ca. 950–1350, Cahokia was a thriving city of tens of thousands, defined by monumental earthworks, sophisticated planning, and far-reaching influence. Today it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Site interpreter Angela Cooper places Cahokia within the broader story of Indigenous North America, outlining its deep historical roots and the shared traditions of the Mississippian world. She focuses on Cahokia’s rise in the American Bottom, exploring how this remarkable city developed and flourished. Cooper connects Cahokia to other Mississippian sites and to descendant communities today, underscoring its enduring cultural significance.