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| NPS Photo by Ken Block | | Park Ranger Dennis "Yellowstone" Lenzendorf |
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A wide variety of guided tours and talks are offered throughout the year. During the summer, ranger guided tours to Fire Point are offered daily. For all program opportunities see our calendar of events...
...all self-guided and ranger guided tours start with the Earthshapers film:
* If not specifically advertised on our calendar of events, rangers will provide talks, tours and demonstrations upon request if staffing allows at the time of the request.
> Ranger Lead Hikes and Talks:
Daily at - 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Summer 2008 (Through Labor Day)
> Moonlight Hike, Saturday August 16, 2008
7:30 PM - Call for Reservations!
563.873.3491
Earthshapers Film
The Monument's 15-minute film about how and why earthen Indian mounds, especially effigy mounds were built.
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. Our Fire Point Trail Guide can serve as an outline for topic the rangers cover in greater detail.
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
Visitors 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.*
* 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.
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