About The River

Friday, September 23, 2016

On The Road Friday ~ Effigy Mounds National Monument ~ Iowa

Welcome to On The Road Friday, today we are going to take a trip to 
Effigy Mounds, National Monument. 
We visited the Effigy Mounds during Labor Day Weekend. We enjoyed beautiful weather and lovely company as we explored.
 
Here is a little history to get you started for the trip.

The animal-shaped mounds remain the symbol of the Effigy Mounds Culture. Along the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa and across the river in southwest Wisconsin, two major animal mound shapes seem to prevail: the bear and the bird. Near Lakes Michigan and Winnebago, water spirit earthworks—historically called turtle and panther mounds—are more common.

 The Late Woodland Period (1400-750 B.P.) along the Upper Mississippi River and extending east to Lake Michigan is associated with the culture known today as the Effigy Moundbuilders. The construction of effigy mounds was a regional cultural phenomenon. Mounds of earth in the shapes of birds, bear, deer, bison, lynx, turtle, panther or water spirit are the most common images. Like earlier groups, the Effigy Moundbuilders continued to build conical mounds for burial purposes, but their burial sites lacked the trade goods of the preceding Middle Woodland Culture. The Effigy Moundbuilders also built linear or long rectangular mounds that were used for ceremonial purposes that remain a mystery. Some archeologists believe they were built to mark celestial events or seasonal observances. Others speculate they were constructed as territorial markers or as boundaries between groups. 


 The hike around the Effigy Mounds is absolutely beautiful. 
We hiked along looking at the mounds and making out the features of the bear and the bird.







This hike was full of history as we hiked along the mounds. The visitor's center is also very well done at the monument.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend. 

17 comments:

  1. You know I'm loving the road trip Friday!!! These pictures are so beautiful. It's amazing what's around us - we are so lucky!

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  2. What a beautiful place for a hike. Everything is so green. Carla, I LOVE IOWA!! I visited many years ago, and told my kids that if they moved there with me, I'd move in an instant. The nicest people ever. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures of Effigy Mounds. Such a peaceful place to take a hike.

    ~Sheri

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  3. I can honestly say that I have never heard of Effigy Moundbuilders. But it makes sense; probably a bit more sense than all these stone circles we have! And it looks a wonderfully peaceful place - super shots through the woodland - I can almost smell it.

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  4. Your photo's are so green and inviting ...

    Happy Weekend to you and your family

    All the best Jan

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  5. Oh my goodness! A wonderful mystery! Like the desert drawings and Easter Island. I have never heard of these, and am so glad hey are being protected.

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  6. That's amazing! We both love to hike but this is even better as you walk and figure out what you are seeing! I love it! Happy weekend sweet friend. Hugs, Diane

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  7. I've never been to Iowa, but wow, what beauty! The greenery looks so, well, GREEN! We were fortunate to take a lovely hike this week in Acadia along the cliffs and ocean and it was magnificent. Mother Nature knows what she's doing :).

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  8. I've never been to Iowa, but wow, what beauty! The greenery looks so, well, GREEN! We were fortunate to take a lovely hike this week in Acadia along the cliffs and ocean and it was magnificent. Mother Nature knows what she's doing :).

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  9. This is just gorgeous. I bet it was fun to hike there. Safe travels.
    Kris

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  10. What a beautiful place. I'm adding it to my places to visit. We haven't been doing much in the way of sight seeing lately. So many places to see. Thanks for sharing some of them here!

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  11. There's so much history nearby that we often know little about. Maybe I should be taking road trips...eventually. Interesting post, Carla.

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  12. Oh, the memories of this place. My grandmother loved taking my family there years ago. She loved the history and everything else about Effigy Mounds. I really need to go back one of these days. Love that you were able to visit here!

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  13. That's awesome! Thanks for the reminder about this National Monument. We have quite a few effigy mounds here in the Madison area and not far from here--they're so interesting.

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  14. Stunning! Love your photos. Have a happy Monday ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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  15. I have never heard of Effigy before, and tried to find the bear in your picture, but didn't quite see it, lol! So very interesting, and what a very beautiful place to visit too! Those Friday excursions are so much fun to virtually "hike" along with you! Hugs to you today Carla :)

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  16. I've enjoyed travelling with you. The woods look so green and cool, two things that are in short supply around here. I wish the rain would hurry up and get here already.
    Amalia
    xo

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High Fives from Wisconsin!