Ancient Mounds

The last Mississippian mound remaining in St. Louis is a place of profound meaning for Osage people.

Much of Sugarloaf Mound will return to the Osage Nation, thanks to a recent land transfer. It’s the oldest man-made structure in St. Louis.

The center will get a new roof and new fire, lighting, security and heating and cooling systems. The work is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to complete.

Using an augmented reality app, visitors can now see what the ancient temple atop Monks Mound and the surrounding city 100 feet below looked like.

A multitude of truncated earthworks — more commonly known as mounds — once dotted the St. Louis landscape. For the ancient Mississippian people who…