caddoan mounds state historic site

This site is a small and very walkable example of the Mound Builder culture that existed along and branching out from the Mississippi River from around 800 A.D. into the 1200s B.C. The museum offers insight into the people, houses, food, and culture of the Caddoan people. This museum is newly (2015) reopened and quite good. Admission is $4.00 per adult, $3.00 for children 6-18, free for children under 5. The trail of pea gravel is along the inner ring of the discovered mounds (Burial, Low Platform). This trail is very walkable, but complimentary golf carts are available if you cannot walk that distance. Also note that there is no shade along the route, so plan accordingly during the summer.The High Ceremonial Mound is across State Highway 21, but there are signs within the compound that explain the significance of that site. If you look closely from several vantage points along the interpretive trail, you will be able to see how the various mound align. I found their use of the sun, moon, and stars within the culture and building to be quite fascinating. This type of alignment is common throughout the Americas in mound building cultures.Another trail leads to a portion of EL Camino Real, the original trade route between Nachitoches, LA, across Texas and into Mexico. There is also a Borrow Pit viewing platform. The mound builders "borrowed" dirt from an adjacent area to use in the construction of their mounds, creating a depression, or pit.. There are no replicas of the housing of the people within the compound nor any active archeological digs, but there are very nice displays inside the museum. Children about 6 and up may enjoy the museum.http://www.visitcaddomounds.com/index.aspx?page=388

We stopped here on our way home to Houston from Caddo Lake, it was definitely worth the slight detour. The museum has recently been redone with new exhibits and an informative video. Extremely well done. There is a walk of less than a mile to visit the site which I highly recommend. The exhibits on the walk are very informative. If you are unable to walk the distance, there are complimentary golf carts to do the tour in.

We camped at Mission Tejas and drove up to check out the Caddoan Mounds. What a neat place! There's a small store and several great exhibits in the museum as well as a video. A large trail (flat, surfaced with pea gravel - would be fine for strollers, wagons, wheel chairs) takes you to the Burial Mound, Borrow Pit, Platform Mound, and gives you a great view of the Ceremonial Mound. The trail is not shaded so keep that in mind during the Texas summer.http://www.visitcaddomounds.com/index.aspx?page=2Well worth taking a little time to see this piece of Texas history.

The Caddo word tejas is believed to be the origin of the word Texas.Caddo Mounds State Historic Site was home to the Caddo from around 800 A.D. to some time in the 13th century. At one time, this culture was the most highly developed in Texas. Yes, I learned a few things.Currently, the museum remains closed for renovations, so admission is half price or two dollars per person. This fee includes use of a golf cart to tour the mounds. The knowledgeable and courteous lady in the office was hopeful that the museum would reopen in October.We enjoyed our tour, and want to return and view the museum and the trail along the El Camino Real which should be open to the public in late 2014 or early 2015.

We stayed at Mission Tejas State Park and decided to visit the Caddoan Mounds on the way home. The museum is being renovated, so we were not able to go inside to see most of the artifacts. A few information panels are displayed in the office. The lady working inside was cheerful and helpful. Admission is reduced to $2 per person since the museum is closed. We took a golf cart and went on the tour. There is a path that encircles the ceremonial and burial mounds. Along the path, there are markers that tell the history of the mounds and civilization. There is a third mound across the highway, and a pit where the Caddos scooped the dirt to build the mounds. The history is interesting and the facilities are neat. It's worth the 30-45 minutes to look and ride the golf cart. The experience would have been much better is we had been allowed into the museum.

The Caddoan Mounds are located on the El Camino Real, the route used by animals, Indians, the earliest settlers and modern day travelers for over 300 years. Although there is not a huge amount of things to see it is definately worth stopping in you are in the area. Read the data and invision a huge Indian population here hundreds of years ago. It is located on the route David Crockett took to the Alamo!

Last time I visited it was getting sort of run down but hopefully thestate came through with more money for upkeep. The visitor center is very nice. Dont go in the heat of the day. There is no shade on the outside exbits

More than 1200 years ago, a group of Caddo Indians known as the Hasinai built a village and ceremonial center 26 miles west of present day Nacogdoches. The site was the southwestern-most ceremonial center for the great mound Builder Culture. Three earthen mounds still rise from the piney wood landscape. You really need to like history to visit when there is no ceremony going on. There is a small museum and gift shop. Outside there is only 3 mounds to see. Try to go when there is a ceremony or you can see it in an hour or less.

We planned our trip for the annual Caddoan festival. The Caddoan people come from Oklahoma every year to celebrate their traditional homeland from which they were forced out 150 years ago. We had the best time dancing to the wonderful young drummers. The womens' beautiful handmade costumes and the pottery and the other Caddoan items made this a great day.