1649 State Hwy. 21 West
Alto, TX 75925
GPS: N31° 35' 46.9" W95° 8' 55"
936-858-3218
caddo-mounds@thc.texas.gov
More than 1,200 years ago, a group of Caddo Indians known as the Hasinai built a village 26 miles west of present-day Nacogdoches. The site was the southwestern-most ceremonial center for the great Mound Builder culture. Today, three earthen mounds still rise from the lush Pineywoods landscape, where visitors discover the everyday life and the history of this ancient civilization.
Support Exciting Caddo Mounds SHS Projects!
Since the opening of Caddo Mounds as a state park until around 1995, a large Caddo grass house stood on site. But after approximately 15 years, the structure became unstable and had to be removed. The Friends of the THC and the Friends of Caddo Mounds helped fund the construction of a new Caddo grass house and are currently raising funds to furnish and maintain the structure. These groups are also helping raise funds for exciting new land management projects at Caddo Mounds SHS. Caddo Mounds staff are working with the USDA and Texas Parks and Wildlife to restore native prairie, create pollinator habitats, form a turkey co-op for the reintroduction of wild turkeys, and develop an interpretive garden. Donate Now
Upcoming Events
August 25
Teacher's Happy Hour
How can museums and historic sites help you in the classroom? Let us show you!
Earn CPE credit while you mingle, snack, and learn about great class room resrouces - everything from lesson plans and field trips to CPE Opportunities and...
September 9
Atl atl Program with Neal Stilley
ALTO, Texas –– Caddo Mounds State Historic Site invites the public to participate in a day program learning about the ancient hunting and throwing device known as the atlatl. The program will be offered at 1:00 P.M. Activities will include...
October 7
Foraging with Merriwether
It is that time again!
Foraging with Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site invites the public to foraging workshop with Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen. Mark writes...
From the Blog
By Rachel Galan, Caddo Mounds Site Educator and Interpreter
We are moving forward with big dreams at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. With the location and identification of the natural resources required to build the new Caddo grass house at the site (e.g. switchgrass, pine and willow poles, and a large central cedar post) and the first efforts to gather these materials, the...
By Caddo Mounds Site Manager Anthony Souther and Educator/Interpreter Rachel Galan
“The Caddo Mounds State Historic Site has always held a certain degree of mystery and magic, but for me the site is also nostalgic. Just driving by the site on Highway 21 reminds me of the days from my childhood when my family would visit the Mounds. There’s just one thing missing. The iconic grass house...
By Rachel Galan, Caddo Mounds Educator/Interpreter
"Think of a really great conversation that you've had. One that left you feeling fulfilled like a really great meal." That was one of the first things asked of participants during our first Caddo Mounds Teachers Workshop. When asked about the attributes of these great conversations, our group of educators responded:
relevance...
