NPS Photo
Park Ranger Dennis "Yellowstone" Lenzendorf
A wide variety of guided tours and talks are offered throughout the year. During the summer, guided interpretive tours to
Fire Point are offered when staffing is available. For all program opportunities see our
calendar of events...
...all self-guided and interpretive tours start with the Earthshapers film:
Earthshapers Film
The Monument's 15-minute film about how and why American Indian mounds were built.
Trail Hikes
A two-mile hike along the Fire Point Trail leads to over 20 mounds, including conical, linear, compound (linear and conical combined as one mound) and effigy. This activity interprets the lives of woodland moundbuilding peoples, their use of and impact on the environment and how this relates to us today. Our Fire Point Trail Guide can serve as an outline for topic the interpreters cover in greater detail.
A one-mile walk along an accessible boardwalk trail leading into a wetland is also available. A visit to three conical American Indian mounds (no effigies) is included in this activity.
Museum Tour
The museum interprets American Indian artifacts up to 2,000 years old.
Stones, Bones and Sticks
Ancient tools and weapon demonstrations will be given on requst. Please call ahead to set time and date.
Cultural Demonstrations
Visitors learn about weapons developed and used by the moundbuilders that enabled them to successfully hunt large animals such as deer, bison and elk. Programs include rangers demonstrating the traditional use of weapons such as the "atlatl", or spearthrower.*
