Mound City IllinoisATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Mound City, Illinois.
1. Mound City National Cemetery
HISTORIC MILITARY MEMORIAL SITE
Mound City National Cemetery is a solemn and historically significant resting place for military veterans spanning 10.5 acres with over 8,000 interments as of 2005. Visitors can pay respects and observe unique features including a monument to the Union soldiers of Illinois dating back to 1874. The cemetery is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and serves as an important historical landmark in Southern Illinois.
2. Magnolia Manor
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE
Magnolia Manor stands as one of Mound City's most notable historic sites featuring distinctive architectural elements that attract history enthusiasts and architecture admirers alike. The well-preserved building offers visitors a glimpse into the region's past through its historical significance and unique design features. Visitors regularly rate this architectural building highly on travel platforms for its cultural and historical value to the area.
3. Horseshoe Lake State & Wildlife Area
NATURAL HABITAT PRESERVE
Horseshoe Lake State & Wildlife Area provides a sanctuary for diverse wildlife and offers numerous recreational opportunities for nature enthusiasts near Mound City. The preserve features distinctive wetland ecosystems, hiking trails, and birdwatching spots that showcase Southern Illinois' natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy fishing, wildlife observation, and peaceful natural surroundings throughout the changing seasons.
4. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
ANCIENT INDIGENOUS METROPOLIS
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site preserves the remains of the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, which once stretched over 4,000 acres with about 120 earthen mounds and hosted nearly 20,000 people around 1100 CE. Visitors can climb the impressive Monks Mound via a stairway and view interpretive signs explaining the panoramic view of this UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1982. The site protects approximately 2,200 acres including 72 of the nearly 80 remaining mounds, with features such as a reconstructed stockade wall and 'Woodhenge,' a circle of posts used to determine seasons by aligning with the sunrise.
5. Monks Mound
LARGEST PRE-COLUMBIAN EARTHWORK
Monks Mound stands as the centerpiece of Cahokia Mounds, offering visitors a chance to climb its stairway to experience breathtaking views of the ancient city's layout. As the largest man-made earthen mound in North America, it served as the central structure of the ancient Mississippian metropolitan center. From its summit, interpretive signage helps visitors understand the impressive engineering and cultural significance of this massive structure that once supported the principal buildings of the ancient city.
6. Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM AND GALLERY
The Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center houses comprehensive museum exhibit galleries showcasing artifacts and information about the Native Americans of the Mississippian cultural tradition. Visitors can experience a life-size village recreation and view the award-winning orientation show 'City of the Sun' describing the site's historical and archaeological significance. Although the exhibit gallery and museum will remain closed for most of 2025 for major mechanical renovations, the museum lobby, restrooms, and gift shop may be available during select guided tour times and special events.
7. Woodhenge
ANCIENT SOLAR CALENDAR
Woodhenge at Cahokia Mounds is a reconstructed circle of wooden posts arranged around a large central post, functioning as a prehistoric calendar for the ancient Mississippian people. Visitors can observe how the structure was ingeniously designed to align with the sunrise, allowing the determination of seasons and time of year through astronomical observations. This remarkable archaeological feature demonstrates the advanced scientific knowledge and cultural practices of the civilization that once thrived at Cahokia.
8. Fort Defiance Park
HISTORIC CIVIL WAR SITE
Fort Defiance Park marks the strategic location where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers converge, playing a crucial role during the Civil War as a Union stronghold. Visitors can explore the historic grounds where General Ulysses S. Grant established his headquarters for the western campaign. The park offers interpretive displays about the fort's military significance along with spectacular views of the river junction that continues to be geographically and historically important to the region.
9. Shawnee National Forest
WILDERNESS RECREATION AREA
Shawnee National Forest spans over 280,000 acres across Southern Illinois, offering spectacular natural features including dramatic bluffs, dense woodlands, and unique rock formations. Visitors can explore an extensive network of hiking trails, including the famous Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon areas that showcase the region's geological diversity. The forest provides year-round recreational opportunities from camping and horseback riding to rock climbing and wildlife watching in one of Illinois' most scenic natural treasures.
10. Cairo Custom House Museum
CIVIL WAR ERA ARCHITECTURE
The Cairo Custom House Museum occupies a magnificent 1872 building designed by Alfred B. Mullett, who also created the Executive Office Building in Washington D.C. Visitors can explore this architectural masterpiece that now houses exhibits on local history, including Cairo's significant role during the Civil War and as an important river port. The building's distinctive Second Empire style with mansard roof and ornate details stands as one of the most impressive historic structures in southern Illinois.
11. Olmsted Locks and Dam
MODERN ENGINEERING MARVEL
The Olmsted Locks and Dam represents one of the largest civil works projects in American history, controlling water levels where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi. Visitors can observe massive wicket gates and state-of-the-art lock chambers that facilitate river navigation for commercial and recreational vessels. This engineering marvel replaced outdated infrastructure and demonstrates the ongoing importance of inland waterways to America's transportation network.
12. Mermet Lake Conservation Area
PREMIER WATERFOWL DESTINATION
Mermet Lake Conservation Area encompasses over 3,500 acres of wetlands, forests, and a 452-acre lake that serves as a major stopover for migrating waterfowl. Visitors can observe thousands of ducks, geese, and other bird species throughout the seasons, with special viewing blinds available during peak migration periods. The conservation area offers excellent fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife photography opportunities in a carefully managed ecosystem.
13. Cache River State Natural Area
ANCIENT CYPRESS SWAMP
The Cache River State Natural Area protects one of the most remarkable wetland ecosystems in the Midwest, featuring thousand-year-old cypress trees growing in swampy bottomlands. Visitors can paddle through mysterious waterways on canoe trails that wind among ancient trees draped with Spanish moss in an environment more commonly associated with the Deep South. The area hosts remarkable biodiversity including over 100 endangered species and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance.
14. Fort Massac State Park
FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORY
Fort Massac State Park preserves the site of a colonial-era fort that guarded the strategic Ohio River frontier from the 1700s through the early 1800s. Visitors can explore a reconstructed wooden fort based on the 1802 plans, complete with barracks, blockhouses, and cannons that bring frontier military history to life. The 1,500-acre park also offers recreational facilities including hiking trails, picnic areas, and a boat ramp for enjoying the natural beauty along the Ohio River.
15. Superman Museum
TRIBUTE TO COMIC HERO
The Superman Museum in Metropolis houses an extensive collection of Superman memorabilia, from rare comics to movie props spanning the character's 80+ year history. Visitors can view thousands of items including original costumes worn by actors who portrayed the Man of Steel on screen and unique promotional materials from around the world. The museum stands as the centerpiece of Metropolis' embrace of its namesake connection to Superman's fictional hometown, complemented by the 15-foot bronze Superman statue in the town square.