Fish Farm Mounds State Preserve

Fish Farm Mounds State Preserve is an archaeological site with several earthwork formations built by Native American communities along the Upper Mississippi River. The three-acre grounds contain visible mound structures that you can observe while walking through the preserve.

The mounds were built by indigenous peoples in prehistoric times and served as burial sites across many generations. The Fish family donated the land to the state in 1935, and it received National Register recognition in 1988.

The mounds show how indigenous peoples honored their dead and shaped this landscape as a sacred space for their community. Visitors walking through the site can sense the long connection between people and place.

You can explore the grounds on foot, ideally during daylight hours when visibility is best and the terrain is dry. The preserve is located near New Albin, Iowa, and is reasonably easy to reach.

The preserve sits within the Driftless Area, a region untouched by glaciers during the last ice age, giving it distinctive rolling hills and valleys. This unusual geology makes the site particularly interesting for those curious about natural history.

Location: Allamakee County

GPS coordinates: 43.45556,-91.27917

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:43