Southern Illinois Congressman Mike Bost has introduced legislation to establish national park status for Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
The Cahokia Mounds and Mississippian Culture National Historic Park would include mounds in Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties, as well as Sugarloaf Mound in St. Louis. The park would be managed by the park service and local stakeholders.
One thousand years ago, Cahokia, "America's First City," was built by the Mississippians. The region was home to 10,000-20,000 people at its peak around 1200 A.D. Today, the Cahokia Mounds is a 22-hundred acre state historic site made up of more than 70 mounds. Cahokia Mounds is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a National Historic Landmark, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In May, the Illinois House of Representatives backed a resolution supporting the national park status as well.
