Albany Mounds State Historic Site

Albany Mounds State Historic Site contains forty-seven earthen mounds spread across the landscape along the Mississippi River, framed by wooded slopes and open prairie. The approximately 205-acre property preserves the setting where past communities built and lived.

The mounds were built during the Middle Woodland Period, between 200 BCE and 300 CE, when Native American groups used this site for burial. These mounds represent how communities of that era honored their dead and organized their social practices.

The artifacts found here show how Native American communities traded with distant groups and stayed connected across vast distances. Visitors can see the objects left behind and understand what they reveal about daily life and connections between people.

The site features walking trails with informational signs, parking areas, restrooms, and a picnic shelter with tables for visitors to use. Everything is set up to make exploring straightforward and comfortable for a half-day visit.

This site holds the largest collection of Hopewell mounds in Illinois, with evidence showing people used this land across multiple periods spanning thousands of years. Researchers have discovered that the history here stretches much deeper than originally understood.

Location: Albany

Website: https://albanymounds.com/;https://www.illinois.gov/ihpa/Experience/Sites/NorthWest/Pages/Albany-Mounds.aspx

GPS coordinates: 41.77687,-90.23298

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:40