Today we continued our adventures at Effigy Mounds National Monument. This historic site is a two hour bus ride from Wartburg campus on the Mississippi River. When we arrived, we were all able to check out the visitor center and museum in order to read a little about the historic significance of the monument. Located on the grounds are hundreds of large earth mounds. Some serve as burial sites for the Native Americans who lived here while others are in patterns that align with celestial movements and are thought to be built for religious reasons. In addition to seeing and reading about the lives of the natives who built the mounds, there was some information regarding Ellison Orr who did a lot of work toward preserving the area.
After our look around the visitors center, we were given about an hour to explore the monument. My group decided to hike the Fire Point loop which featured three different mound types (conical, compound, and bear-shaped) as well as some scenic overlooks of the Mississippi. As we hiked along, I was stunned by the natural beauty of the bluffs of the Iowa and how different they are compared to the flat cornfields in the middle of the state where I am from. The trek up was quite steep, so we stopped and looked out over one of the overlooks. On the railing you can see some of the colored prayer ties which are important to the Native American tradition. They can be tied in celebration or in grief but were some of the only spots of really bright spots of color we saw today as all the trees are just beginning to sprout their leaves.
As we walked, we were able to see some wildlife including squirrels, chipmunks, turkey vultures, hawks, and a red headed woodpecker. There were also some pretty purple and yellow flowers which I did not recognize. Finally, we were able to see some of the mounds themselves. Pictured here is one of the bear shaped mounds.
It is a little tough to see but the bear’s head is on the left and the legs are facing down. We ended our trip with a walk back down the big hill and a picnic lunch.
Reflecting, I really enjoyed our short morning at Effigy Mounds. We were able to appreciate the natural beauty of Iowa and get out of a city or school for the first time on our trip. I’m in awe of the creations of the mound-builders and thankful for the preservation efforts of Ellison Orr. I hope to be able to return soon.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts about our tour today!
David Guetzlaff
Wind Ensemble Euphonium Player