NPS Photo by Ken Block

Historic Tools Demonstration

There are many benefits for a class visit to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Activities can be curriculum based and designed to meet your specific needs. Programs based on the American Indian mounds feature two -mile round trip hikes highlighted by visits to bear-shaped effigy mounds. There are plenty of opportunities for your students to experience an exhilarating hike up a relatively steep trail and handle historic objects, tools and furs - combining exercise of the mind with exercise of the body! Other trail walks are available that feature trails sloped appropriately for wheel chair and other mobility impaired visitors.


Entrance to the Monument is free for groups from a formal accredited educational institution. There is a special fee of $30.00 per group (maximum of 30 students) for ranger conducted programs. The group size restrictions are based on practical limitations imposed by hiking the Monument's trails. One ranger is assigned for each group of 30 students; adults accompanying the group are not included in the 30 person limit.  

Reservations are taken year-round for programs presented in late April, May, September and October. A history of groups returning each year and limitations of ranger availability usually require reservations made well in advance.

* Seasonal Ranger Staff are available on a regular basis each year from May through mid-October.  Reserved tours in late April and late October are limited to intermittent ranger availability.

The Monument offers a wide variety of cultural and natural resources within a magnificent setting along the high bluffs of the upper Mississippi River. Groups are encouraged to make a self-guided field trip if a ranger conducted program is not available. At minimum, rangers can offer any group an orientation talk at the visitor center, a talk in the museum collection of ancient Indian artifacts, and a talk at a group of three conical (round) shaped burial mounds located within 100 yards of the center.

For more information on reserving a ranger conducted program - contact the Monument at 563.873.3491, or by e-mail.

* Staff assigned to manage reservations are available intermittently for (only) 4 hours each week on varying days November through April. A phone call is always welcome, however, invariably your message will be forwarded to the responsible staff (internally) via e-mail. E-mailing requests, even general information requests including dates of program availability, during this time period using the link above is the method most direct and efficient. Honest!

Teachers: If you planning a trip with your class to Effigy Mounds National Monument, please fill out the reservation form mail it to Effigy Mounds National Monument, or place the information requested on the reservation form into the body of this e-mail entry form.

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E-MAIL REQUESTS FOR MAILING (GENERAL) PRINTED INFORMATION:

By reaching this link, you are just a few steps away from exploring this website and finding all the materials and information we offer - including photos, the park map and information contained in our full color park brochure. The teacher's section contains a large volume of information, and is not restricted to "teachers".

This information can be copied, printed and / or downloaded.

The materials we mail out upon request are: the one page (double sided) full color park brochure, calendar of events, a few of the posted "site bulletin" publications and the teacher's curriculum guide publication (although that too is available via download).

Specific topical / research requests are welcome and handled on a case by case basis.

Educational Program Resources
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NPS Photo by Ken Block

Indian Mounds at Fire Point (One-Mile from the

Trail Hikes
A two-mile hike along the Fire Point Trail leads to over 20 mounds, including conical, linear, compound (linear and conical combined as one mound) and effigy. This activity interprets the lives of woodland moundbuilding peoples, their use of and impact on the environment and how this relates to us today.

A one-mile walk along an accessible boardwalk trail leading into a wetland is also available. A visit to three conical burial mounds (no effigies) is included in this activity.

Museum Tour
A guided tour of the museum interprets American Indian artifacts up to 2,000 years old.

Stones, Bones and Sticks
Hands on activity featuring a variety of ancient tools used by the moundbuilding cultures made from, well you guessed it...

...stones, bones and sticks! We include those made from other materials as well such as pottery.

Cultural Demonstrations
Students learn about weapons developed and used by the moundbuilders that enabled them to successfully hunt large animals such as deer, bison and elk. Programs include rangers demonstrating the traditional use of weapons such as the "atlatl", or spearthrower.*

* Students and other visitors observe only; we cannot allow persons to handle and operate the complete weapon (launching a spear with the atlatl) due to safety concerns and NPS historic weapons policy.