List of archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page lists archaeological sites in Illinois that are recognized as important historical places. These sites are special because they help us learn about the past, showing us how people lived long ago.

In the United States, places can be added to the National Register of Historic Places if they meet certain rules. One rule, called Criterion D, is for places where archaeologists can find clues about history. These clues might be from Native American communities or from European settlers.

Illinois has over eighty such sites! This list includes all the archaeological places in Illinois that are officially recognized for their historical value.

Exploring Illinois' Ancient History

Archaeological sites are like giant puzzles left behind by people who lived centuries ago. By studying these sites, experts called archaeologists can piece together stories about daily life, tools, homes, and cultures from different time periods.

What is an Archaeological Site?

An archaeological site is any place where people have left evidence of their past activities. This evidence can be anything from old tools and pottery to the remains of buildings or even entire villages. These sites are super important because they are often the only way we can learn about people who didn't write down their history.

Why Are These Sites Protected?

These sites are protected to make sure they are not damaged or destroyed. This allows archaeologists to study them carefully and helps us all learn about the rich history of Illinois. Many of these sites are open for visitors, so you can explore them too!

Important Archaeological Sites in Illinois

Here's a list of some of the most important archaeological sites in Illinois. Each one tells a unique story about the people who lived there long ago.

	Site Name	Image	Location	County	Who Lived There	Cool Facts
1	Albany Mounds Site		Albany: Albany Mounds Trail	Whiteside	Middle Woodland: Hopewell	This site has ancient burial mounds built by the Hopewell people.
2	Alton Military Prison Site	Alton Military Prison remains	Alton: inside the block bounded by Broadway and William, 4th, and Mill Sts.	Madison	Euro-American	Remains of a Civil War prison for Confederate soldiers.
3	Apple River Fort Site	Apple River Fort	Elizabeth: 0.25 miles east-southeast of the junction of Myrtle and Illinois Sts.	Jo Daviess	Euro-American	Site of a fort built during the Black Hawk War.
4	Warren Bane Site		Ellsworth: northeast of the junction of 3000E and 750N	McLean	Kickapoo	An important village site of the Kickapoo people.
5	Beattie Park Mound Group	Beattie Park Mounds	Rockford: N. Main St. between Park and Mound Aves.	Winnebago	Late Woodland	A group of ancient mounds in a city park.
6	Bieker-Wilson Village Site	Bieker-Wilson Village Site	New Haven: Sandy Slough, southeast of the junction of County Road 300N and 1650E	White	Late Woodland and Mississippian	This site shows evidence of two different ancient cultures.
7	Briscoe Mounds	Briscoe Mounds	Channahon: Front St. along the Des Plaines River	Will	Oneota	Mounds built by the Oneota people near the river.
8	Cahokia Mounds	Monks Mound at Cahokia	Collinsville: 7850 Collinsville Rd. at Cahokia Mounds State Park	St. Clair	Mississippian	One of the largest and most important ancient cities in North America.
9	Carrier Mills Archeological District	Carrier Mills Archaeological District	Carrier Mills: along the Saline River south of Carrier Mills	Saline	Late Archaic through Middle Woodland	A large area with many ancient sites from different time periods.
10	John Chapman Village Site	Wapello Land and Water Reserve	Hanover: western side of Illinois Route 84, south of Hanover	Jo Daviess	Late Woodland and Mississippian	A village site showing long-term occupation by different groups.
11	Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Shiloh Encampment Site	CCC Camp Shiloh at night	Pleasant Grove Township	Coles	Euro-American	Remains of a camp from the Great Depression era.
12	Clear Lake Site		Manito: junction of 1200E and 2600N in Sand Ridge State Park	Mason and Tazewell	Late Woodland and Mississippian	An important site near a lake, showing different ancient cultures.
13	Cleiman Mound and Village Site	Cleiman Mound with village	Gorham: northeast of the junction of Big Lake and Thomas Town Rds.	Jackson	Middle Woodland through Mississippian	This site includes both mounds and a village area.
14	Collins Archeological District	Site core at the Collins Archeological District	Danville: west of Lake Mingo at Kennekuk County Park	Vermilion	Late Woodland	A district with many archaeological findings from the Late Woodland period.
15	Corbin Farm Site	Long Point near Corbin Farm Site	Utica: Long Point, between Illinois Route 71 and the Illinois River	LaSalle	Late Woodland and Upper Mississippian	An ancient village site near the Illinois River.
16	Dickson Mounds	Dickson Mounds Museum	Lewistown: off County Road 4	Fulton	Mississippian	A famous site with ancient Mississippian burial mounds and a museum.
17	Dogtooth Bend Mounds and Village Site	Dogtooth Bend Village Site	Willard: western end of Lake Milligan	Alexander	Mississippian	A Mississippian village and mound site near a lake.
18	Duffy site	Duffy Site south of New Haven	New Haven: Sally Hardin Rd., southeast of New Haven	Gallatin	Late Woodland	An important Late Woodland period site.
19	Duncan Farm	Duncan Farm Site	Grafton: southern side of Illinois Route 100, ½ mile west of Brussels Ferry	Jersey	Paleoindian through Mississippian	This site shows evidence of human activity from very early times to the Mississippian period.
20	Emerald Mound and Village Site	Emerald Mound	Lebanon: northwest of the junction of Emerald Mound Grange and Midgley Neiss Rd.	St. Clair	Mississippian	A Mississippian mound and village site.
21	Evelyn Site		Newark: midway between Newark and Lisbon Center Rds., east of Big Grove Rd.	Kendall	Archaic	An ancient site from the Archaic period.
22	Farm Creek Section	Farm Creek Section	East Peoria: southern side of Farm Creek	Tazewell	Not applicable	This site is important for studying ancient geology and climate, not human cultures.
23	Fort Massac Site	Fort Massac	Metropolis: southeast of Metropolis on the Ohio River	Massac	Euro-American	The remains of an old French and later American fort.
24	French Colonial Historic District	American Bottom in Randolph County	Prairie du Rocher: from Fort Chartres State Park to Kaskaskia Island	Monroe and Randolph	Paleoindian through Mississippian and Euro-American	A large historical area with evidence of both ancient and early European settlements.
25	Giant City Stone Fort Site	Stone Fort Wall	Makanda: Stone Fort Rd.	Jackson	Late Woodland	An ancient stone fort built by Late Woodland people.
26	Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site	Toppmeyer Site	Brussels: western side of Quarry Rd., south of Illinois River Rd.	Calhoun	Late Woodland	A Late Woodland period site.
27	Grand Tower Mining, Manufacturing and Transportation Company Site	Grand Tower Park hillside	Grand Tower: Devil's Backbone Park	Jackson	Euro-American	Remains of an old industrial site from the 1800s.
28	Griggsville Landing Lime Kiln		Valley City: Township Road 490, north of Napoleon Hollow	Pike	Euro-American	An old kiln used to make lime, important for building.
29	Horseshoe Lake Mound and Village Site	Horseshoe Lake Village	Granite City: southwest of the junction of Illinois Route 111 and Horseshoe Lake Rd.	Madison	Late Woodland through Mississippian	A large site with mounds and a village near Horseshoe Lake.
30	Hotel Plaza Site	Hotel Plaza Site	Utica: northeast of the lodge at Starved Rock State Park	LaSalle	Archaic through Upper Mississippian	This site shows a long history of human use, from Archaic to Upper Mississippian times.
31	Hubele Mounds and Village Site	Hubele Mounds and Village Site	Maunie: east of the junction of County Roads 950N and 1900E	White	Middle Woodland: Hopewell	Mounds and a village from the Hopewell culture.
32	Kamp Mound Site	Kamp Mound Site	Kampsville: Illinois Route 100, north of Kampsville	Calhoun	Woodland	An important mound site from the Woodland period.
33	Kellogg's Grove	Kellogg's Grove	Kent: southeast of Kent	Stephenson	Sauk and Euro-American	A historic site with ties to both Native American and early American history.
34	Kincaid site	Kincaid Mounds	Brookport: Newcut Rd.	Massac and Pope	Mississippian	A very large and important Mississippian city site.
35	Kolmer Site	Kolmer Site	Prairie du Rocher: Levee Rd., west of Fort Chartres State Park	Randolph	Michigamea	A village site of the Michigamea people.
36	Koster Site		Eldred: 200 yards (180 m) east of the Eldred-Hillview road, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Eldred	Greene	Archaic	One of the most important Archaic period sites, showing thousands of years of human life.
37	Kuhn Station Site	Kuhn Station Site	Edwardsville: Rosewood Hills Dr.	Madison	Mississippian	A Mississippian period site.
38	Larson Site	Larson Site	Lewistown: Waterford Rd. north of the Waterford Cemetery	Fulton	Late Woodland through Mississippian	This site shows a transition from Late Woodland to Mississippian cultures.
39	Lebanon Historic District		Lebanon: irregular pattern centered along St. Louis and Belleville Sts.	St. Clair	Late Woodland through Mississippian	A historic area that includes evidence of ancient cultures.
40	Little Beaver Site		Utica: Starved Rock State Park, west of Illinois Route 178	LaSalle	Middle Woodland	A Middle Woodland period site within Starved Rock State Park.
41	Lunsford-Pulcher Archeological Site	Lunsford-Pulcher Site	Columbia: western side of Oklahoma Hill Rd.	Monroe and St. Clair	Mississippian	A large Mississippian site with mounds and a village.
42	Marseilles Hydro Plant	Marseilles Hydro Plant	Marseilles: Commercial St.	LaSalle	Euro-American	An old hydroelectric power plant, showing early industrial history.
43	Pierre Martin House	Pierre Martin House	North Dupo: 1st St. at Old Illinois Route 3	St. Clair	Euro-American	An old house from the French colonial period.
44	Mayberry Mound and Village Site	Mayberry Mound and Village Site	Sims: northeast of the junction of County Road 900E and the Skillet Fork	Wayne	Archaic	An Archaic period mound and village site.
45	McCune Mound and Village Site	McCune Village near Sterling	Sterling: western side of Illinois Route 40, north of Science Ridge Rd.	Whiteside	Upper Mississippian	An Upper Mississippian mound and village site.
46	Millstone Bluff	Millstone Bluff	Glendale: Illinois Route 147 west of its junction with Illinois Route 145	Pope	Late Woodland through Mississippian	A bluff with ancient rock art and evidence of different cultures.
47	Millville Town Site	Millville Town Site	Apple River: Apple River Canyon State Park, 8663 E. Canyon Rd.	Jo Daviess	Euro-American	The remains of an early American town.
48	Mitchell Archeological Site	Mitchell Archaeological Site	Mitchell: western end of University Dr.	Madison	Mississippian	A significant Mississippian period site.
49	Modoc Rock Shelter	Modoc Rock Shelter	Modoc: northeastern side of County Road 7 southeast of Roscow Hollow Rd.	Randolph	Early Archaic through Mississippian	A rock shelter with evidence of human use for thousands of years.
50	Morris Wide Water Canal Boat Site	Morris Wide Water Canal Boat Site	Morris: E. Washington St.	Grundy	Euro-American	The site of an old canal boat, showing transportation history.
51	Mound House Site		Hillview: Eastern bank of the Illinois River, ½ mile west of the end of 600E	Greene	Early Woodland through Mississippian	A site with mounds and evidence of different ancient cultures.
52	Naples Archeological District		Naples: eastern bank of the Illinois River south of Naples	Scott	Early Woodland through Mississippian	A large area with many archaeological findings near the Illinois River.
53	Naples Mound 8	Naples-Russel Mound 8	Griggsville: north of Interstate 72 just west of the Illinois River	Pike	Middle Woodland: Hopewell	A specific mound from the Hopewell culture.
54	New Philadelphia Town Site	New Philadelphia townsite	Barry: Township Road 156, east of Barry	Pike	Euro-American	The remains of the first town in the U.S. founded by an African American.
55	Nutwood Site		Nutwood: western side of Illinois Route 100, 500 feet south of the Narrows Creek bridge	Jersey	Late Woodland	A Late Woodland period site.
56	Ogden-Fettie Site	Dickson Mound	Lewistown: south of Lewistown	Fulton	Middle Woodland: Hopewell	Another important Hopewell culture site.
57	Old Kaskaskia Village	Old Kaskaskia Village	Ottawa: Dee Bennett Rd. on the northern side of the Illinois River	LaSalle	Kaskaskia	The main village of the Kaskaskia people.
58	Orendorf Site		Canton: western side of U.S. Route 24 near the northern end of the Duck Creek Cooling Pond	Fulton	Mississippian	A Mississippian period village site.
59	Orr-Herl Mound and Village Site	Orr-Herl Village Site	Rosiclare: northern bank of the Ohio River midway between Elizabethtown and Rosiclare	Hardin	Mississippian	A Mississippian mound and village site along the Ohio River.
60	Piney Creek Site	Piney Creek Site overview	Campbell Hill: north of Piney Creek in Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve	Randolph	Late Woodland through Mississippian	A site within a nature preserve with evidence of different cultures.
61	Piney Creek South Site	Piney Creek South Site	Campbell Hill: south of Piney Creek in Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve	Randolph	Late Woodland	Another Late Woodland site in the Piney Creek area.
62	Piney Creek West Site	Piney Creek West Site	Campbell Hill: north of Piney Creek in Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve	Randolph	Late Woodland	A third Late Woodland site in the Piney Creek Ravine.
63	Riverton Site	Fields at the Riverton Site	Palestine: northern side of 1150th Avenue immediately west of the Wabash River, northeast of Palestine	Crawford	Late Archaic: Riverton	A key site for understanding the Riverton culture of the Late Archaic period.
64	Rock Island Arsenal	Rock Island Arsenal	Rock Island: Rock Island in the Mississippi River	Rock Island	Euro-American	A historic military manufacturing center.
65	Rockwell Mound	Rockwell Mound	Havana: Rockwell Park at the northern end of Orange St.	Mason	Middle Woodland: Havana Hopewell	A mound from the Havana Hopewell culture.
66	John Roy Site	John Roy Site	Clayton: southwest of the junction of 1700th Ave. and 2950th St.	Adams	Late Woodland	A Late Woodland period site.
67	Saline Springs	Saline Springs site	Equality: Salt Well Rd., ½ mile west of the Saline River bridge	Gallatin	Early Woodland through Mississippian and Euro-American	An important site for salt production, used by both ancient peoples and early settlers.
68	Schudel No. 2 Site	Schudel No. 2 Site	Hamburg: 200N, west of Mississippi River Rd.	Calhoun	Early Woodland through Mississippian	This site shows a long history of occupation from Early Woodland to Mississippian times.
69	Shaky Shelter Site		Utica: in a ravine south of Illinois Route 71 at Starved Rock State Park	LaSalle	Upper Mississippian	A rock shelter used by Upper Mississippian people.
70	Sheets Site		Lewistown: County Road 14, west of Lewistown	Fulton	Late Archaic through Early Woodland	A site showing the transition from the Late Archaic to Early Woodland periods.
71	Sinnissippi site	Sinnissippi Site	Sterling: Sinnissippi Park, off 13th St.	Whiteside	Middle Woodland: Hopewell	Mounds built by the Hopewell culture.
72	Sleeth Site	Sleeth Site	Liverpool: northeast of the junction of U.S. Route 24 and Pollitt Rd.	Fulton	Mississippian	A Mississippian period site.
73	Starved Rock	Starved Rock on Illinois River	Ottawa: 6 miles from Ottawa on Illinois Route 71, Starved Rock State Park	LaSalle	Kaskaskia and Euro-American	A famous rock formation with a long history, including Native American and early French use.
74	Stoner Site	Stoner Site fields	Robinson: eastern side of 1550th St. between 1300th and 1235th Aves.	Crawford	Allison-Lamotte	A site from the Allison-Lamotte culture.
75	Swan Island Site	Swan Island Site	Palestine: northern side of the junction of the Wabash River and the Crawford/Lawrence county line	Crawford	Late Archaic: Riverton	Another important site for the Riverton culture.
76	Tampico Mounds		Maples Mill: west of the junction of U.S. Route 24 and County Road 8	Fulton	Late Woodland	Mounds from the Late Woodland period.
77	Tegtmeyer Site	Tegtmeyer Site	Campbell Hill: north of Piney Creek in Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve	Randolph	Mississippian	A Mississippian period site in the Piney Creek Ravine.
78	Ware Mounds and Village Site	Ware Mounds and Village Site	Ware: west of the junction of Illinois Routes 3 and 146 at Ware	Union	Late Woodland through Mississippian	A site with mounds and a village, showing different ancient cultures.
79	White and Company's Goose Lake Stoneware Manufactury	White and Company's Goose Lake Stoneware Manufactury	Morris: 5010 N. Jugtown Rd.	Grundy	Euro-American	The remains of an old factory that made stoneware.
80	White and Company's Goose Lake Tile Works	White and Company's Goose Lake Tile Works	Morris: 5010 N. Jugtown Rd.	Grundy	Euro-American	The remains of an old factory that made tiles.
81	Wilson Mounds and Village Site	Wilson Mounds at Rising Sun	Maunie: within and surrounding the Marshall Ferry Cemetery at Rising Sun	White	Middle Woodland: Havana Hopewell	Mounds and a village from the Havana Hopewell culture.
82	Windrose Site		Bourbonnais: Kankakee River Nature Preserve, west of Bradley	Kankakee	Pottawatomie	An important village site of the Pottawatomie people.