Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown
National Historical Site & Archeology Digs at Illinois River Valley
More recently famous as home to Edgar Lee Masters and his semi-biographical "Spoon River Anthology," Lewistown, Illinois, is also home to the Dickson Mounds Museum.
A National Historic Site and a branch of the Illinois State Museum, the Dickson Mounds Museum features an on-site archaeological museum studying 12,000 years of the Illinois River Valley native residents’ history. Continual archaeological research is conducted in covered mounds that were originally unearthed by curiosity-seekers prior to the museum’s existence. Shelters now protect the mounds with glass-front walkways allowing visitors to watch archaeological digs in progress.
In addition to being educational for visitors, the archaeological digs satisfy the requirements for individuals seeking National Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106 compliance. Section 106 protects cultural resources, such as archaeological sites, from damage or destruction.
The Dickson Mounds Museum's anthropological collection is one of the most extensive in the U.S. More than 8 million archaeological specimens and ethnographic items are housed at both Dickson Mounds and the Research and Collections Center in Springfield, Ill. Collections housed in the two museums include the Modoc Rock Shelter and Cahokia Mounds, one of the only two U. S. sites appearing on the United Nation's World Heritage List.
The interactive Reflections on Three Worlds exhibit is a walk-through experience of the last 800 years of the mounds. The life and culture of these Native Americans is depicted through a mesmerizing multimedia event through the voices of the Three Worlds of Mississippian belief.
The museum features two audio-visual presentations and interpretation of museum artifacts including projectile points that predate arrowheads. On a clear day, step out onto the museum’s observation deck, towering above the valley, for a glimpse of the Illinois River Valley. Children ages four through eight can enjoy special half-hour museum tours followed by 30 minutes of structured playtime in the Discovery Center.
Ongoing events at the museum include dulcimer workshops, children’s “Art in the Park,” and archaeological lectures. The Dickson Mounds Museum Gift Shop offers folk, traditional, contemporary, and ethnic arts and crafts, as well as fine art. Items for sale are produced by juried members of the Illinois Artisans program, focusing on the fine crafting heritage in Illinois.
For a more lighthearted experience, stop by the Hickory Ridge Coffeehouse at 7:30 p.m. the third Saturday of each month. A variety of Midwest folk musicians perform while visitors dine on pie and coffee. A $5.00 admission fee is charged at the Coffeehouse.
Admission to the museum is free of charge. Dickson Mounds Museum is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the exceptions of New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Located at 10956 North Dickson Mounds Road, the museum is 60 miles northwest of Springfield near the intersection of Route 78 and 97. There is ample parking for passenger vehicles and tour buses.
You can find more information online at Dickson Mounds Museum's website.
