THE PUSH TO:
"SAVE THE MOUNDS IN 1917"
PRESERVING THE CAHOKIA MOUNDS SITE
Banner to 1917 newspaper about Cahokia Mounds.
MARCH 11, 1917 ST. LOUIS GLOB-DEMOCRAT

ABSTRACT:
EARLY HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE CAHOKIA MOUNDS INTO A STATE PARK

   The main purpose of this article is to allow the viewing and reading of a rare full page newspaper article about the Cahokia Mounds State Historic site. It was published in 1917 before the site was made into the state park that it is today. The newspaper article is in color and has a black & white photo of the largest mound on the site, Monks Mound, and a map showing were the site is located. The article gives a short history of the owners of the site along with several interesting stories. It may take approximately 5 1/2 minutes to enlarge the picture.

Booklet promoting "Save the Mounds" campaign.
A BOOKLET PROMOTING THE PRESERVATION OF CAHOKIA MOUNDS BY THE "CAHOKIA MOUND ASSOCIATION" IN 1917
PETE BOSTROM LIBRARY

   This booklet was written by the "Cahokia Mounds Association" and contains letters that were written between 1863 and 1917 that argue for preserving the archaeological site at Cahokia. The "Cahokia Mounds Association" was started by a group of people  in 1913 for the purpose of preserving the Cahokia Mounds site. This large Mississippian site (the biggest in North America) is located in southern Illinois just east of St. Louis, Missouri. The members of the "Cahokia Mounds Association" were concerned because so many of the large mounds had already been completely destroyed in the area. They were very worried that if something wasn't done soon to protect the mounds at Cahokia that there may not be any left for the future.
   One of the letters in this booklet was written by William Barry. He writes in 1863 that "the ancient earthworks of this state (Illinois), especially in southern Illinois are of unsurpassed interest and scientific value. It would be a lasting reproach upon our intelligence and respect for the past----without one attempt to rescue them from premature obliteration and utter ruin".
   The first attempt to begin a campaign to "save the mounds" is described in a July 18, 1909 St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat. That article says "The purpose of the recent visit of Mr. Mease of the Illinois Historical Society was to secure local cooperation in East St. Louis for making the great mound and the ground around it part of an Illinois state park or reservation".

1917 newspaper describing Cahokia Mounds.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR VERY LARGE "READABLE" COPY (5 1/2 min.)
A FULL PAGE ARTICLE WRITTEN IN 1917 BY THE
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT ABOUT
THE "GREAT CAHOKIA MOUNDS"
PETE BOSTROM LIBRARY

   This early newspaper article informs the public that "A bill was introduced recently in the Illinois Legislature proposing that the state make a park of the great Cahokia Mounds, declared by many scientists and the Encyclopedia Britannica to be the largest in the world".
   The article has several interesting stories. It gives the history of the various owners. One interesting story tells about one of the owners that would not let a team of diggers who had come there well equipped "in a special train from the east" to excavated the great mound.
   Another story suggests why visiting the site is so much fun "One reward for the trip to the mounds are the arrowheads, the pieces of pottery, some of it still red after 2,000 years in the weather, of spear heads and stone axes to be found in the fields near the mounds".
   Click on the picture for a large "readable" copy.

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