WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LEGENDS
Located on the banks of the Ohio River in southwest Indiana, Angel Mounds State Historic Site is one of the best-preserved, pre-contact Native American sites in North America. Built between A.D. 1000 and 1450, the town was occupied by more than 1,000 people who were part of the Mississippian culture, and included earthen mounds built to elevate important buildings.
The original town covered an area of 103 acres and served as an important religious, political and trade center for people living within a 75-mile radius. Nearly 575 acres comprise Angel Mounds State Historic Site, which includes an interpretive center, recreations of Mississippian buildings and a working reconstruction of the 1939 Works Progress Administration (WPA) archaeology laboratory. The 500-acre non-archaeological portion of the site contains a nature preserve with hiking and biking trails and an 18-hole disk golf course.
Step back in time
Immerse yourself in a 1,000-year-old Native American culture at this incredibly well-preserved, 600-acre site featuring earthen mounds built by a Mississippian society.
Explore our Interpretive Center
Wind your way through the interpretive center to orient yourself to the history (and archaeology) of the site. Angel Mounds tells the story of the people of the Middle Mississippian culture who inhabited this area from 1000 to 1450 A.D.
Take a Hike!
Twelve earthen mounds, built for ceremonial and residential purposes, are scattered throughout grounds encompassing nearly 100 acres. The site also includes the incredible Angel Mounds Loop Trail spanning roughly four miles. This trail will lead you to an unexpected slice of archaeological history and stunning scenery.
Meet Glenn Black
Explore a new experience that guides visitors through the life of noted Indiana archaeologist Glenn A. Black, who conducted fieldwork for many years at Angel Mounds. An interactive area also allows visitors to reconstruct a broken clay pot, explore a recreation of Black’s desk, and experiment with a simulated, tabletop magnetometer to uncover hidden objects in the ground and more.
Mississippian culture
Mississippian culture was innovative and the first to extensively exploit agriculture and build permanent communities. This economic and social system was made possible by the widespread cultivation of corn, which was nutritious and could be stored in large quantities. The town here lends its name to the Angel phase of Mississippian culture, found near the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers from the late 11th through the 15th centuries. By 1450, the site was empty and no one knows for sure why the inhabitants left. Maybe the wood and game would have been depleted. Or intense agriculture might have overworked the soil. The reasons they left are questions archaeologists continue to research.
ARCHAEOLOGY AT ANGEL MOUNDS
In historic times, the site was a working farm of the Angel family. In 1938, with a donation from Eli Lilly, the Indiana Historical Society purchased the land to protect it from development. Starting in 1939, under the direction of Glenn A. Black, a crew of 277 WPA workers began excavating the site, recovering more than 2.5 million artifacts. Black’s efforts had a major impact on North American archaeological thought and technique, and at one time, the project was one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
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Jun 17, 2023 10:00 am - 5:00 pmMultiple Locations
FREE DAY! Juneteenth
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Jul 8, 2023 10:00 am - 11:30 amAngel Mounds
Historic Tour of Angel Mounds
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Jul 29, 2023 9:00 am - 11:30 amAngel Mounds
Introduction to Building Survival Shelters
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Apr 8, 2024 2:00 pm - 3:00 pmMultiple Locations
Solar Eclipse 2024
Unearth History All Year Long
Our members enjoy exploring the life and times of Indiana’s original inhabitants, hiking and biking through the grounds, as well as pursuing archaeological interests all year long! What will you learn today?
explore our membership plansOperating Hours
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Holidays
Easter (April 9) – Closed
Memorial Day (May 29) – Open
Juneteenth (June 17) – Free admission
Labor Day (Sept. 4) – Open
Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) – Closed
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) – Closed
Christmas Day (Dec. 25) – Closed
Free Days
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Juneteenth (June 17)
Plan Your Trip
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Admission
Please note: The Angel Mounds Visitor Center is undergoing renovations and the exhibit portion and gift shop are closed. The grounds will remain open throughout the duration of the renovations, with reduced admission.
Visiting on a free day? Specific site access and tour space will be limited. Please contact the site in advance of your visit to learn more and reserve your space.
Purchase Tickets -
Contact
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Group Rate
For groups of 15 or more, adult tickets are $6, and youth tickets are $3. Group tickets must be purchased in person.
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Discounts
Special discounts are available for educators and education groups, military, Access Pass holders and more. View all discounts >>
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Tours
Self-guided tours of the site are available during regular operating hours. Hiking trails are also open during regular operating hours.
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School Groups
Field trip admission is free for pre-scheduled, accredited schools and homeschool groups of 10 or more Indiana K-12 students. Call 812.853.3956 to schedule your visit.
Academic topics covered include Prehistoric Native American culture (Mississippian ca. 1000-1400 A.D.), archaeology, nature and star lore.
Learn more about field trip and school program offerings in the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites PreK-12 Education Program Guide. View guide >>
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Commercial Photography And Videography
If you are a photographer looking to book a shoot at Angel Mounds State Historic Site, please review our commercial photography policy and application process. Learn more >>
LOOKING TO BOOK A FIELD TRIP?
Help bring history, science, art and education to life for your students with a one-of-a-kind field trip experience. All state historic sites support Indiana Academic Standards, and feature a variety of academic topics. Call 812.853.3956 to schedule your visit to Angel Mounds.
Learn More in Our Educator Program Guide8215 Pollack Ave, Evansville, IN 47715
Visit Today
Angel Mounds has a distinctive Visitors Center that looks like the mounds, so you’ll be able to see it from the road once you reach Pollack Avenue. Parking is available at the Angel Mounds Interpretive Center.
