Hartley Fort State Preserve facts for kids

Hartley Fort State Preserve is a small, special piece of land in Iowa, United States. It is about 2 acres (0.8 hectares) big. You can find it along the Upper Iowa River in a unique area called the Driftless Area. This preserve is located in Allamakee County.

Where is Hartley Fort Located?

Hartley Fort State Preserve sits on a flat area called a terrace. This terrace is about 80 feet (24 meters) above the Upper Iowa River. It is about seven miles (11 kilometers) upstream from where the Upper Iowa River joins the mighty Upper Mississippi River.

Who Built the Fort?

This site is very important because it has remains of an old Native American settlement. This settlement was fortified, meaning it had defenses like walls or mounds. People known as the mound builders lived here long ago. Their ruins seem to be connected to the Woodland period and to groups like the Oneota and Cahokia cultures. These cultures were known for building large earth mounds.

Can You Visit Hartley Fort?

The land where Hartley Fort State Preserve is located is privately owned. This means it belongs to a private person or group, not the public. Because of this, there is currently no public access to the preserve.