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Effigy Mounds National MonumentMarching Bear Mound Group
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Effigy Mounds National Monument
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60th Anniversary Logo

Main Artwork by Abbey Harkrader

Celebrating 60 Years of Preservation.

Effigy Mounds National Monument Celebrates 60 Years!

On October 25, 1949, President Harry Truman signed a proclamation that established Effigy Mounds National Monument under the authority of the 1906 Antiquities Act. This created the Monument as part of the National Park System to protect one of the best surviving collection of pre-European earthen American Indian mounds, featuring magnificent "Effigy Mound" formations, in the United States.

During 2009 Effigy Mounds National Monument will celebrate its 60th anniversary through a series of events, programs, and exhibits that will highlight the theme "The Movement for a National Park in Iowa".  In anticipation of this significant milestone in the history of the Monument, staff has been working on improvements to park programs and facilities that will engage the local communities, as well as the many visitors to northeast Iowa.

Ellison Orr at Desk: Most of Orr's collections reside at effigy Mounds National Monument  

Did You Know?
An important figure in the documentation of Iowa's effigy mounds was Ellison Orr. Born in 1857, Orr worked other jobs while pursuing research in archeology. After retiring at the age of 73, Orr began a career as an archeologist spending the next 20 years conducting surveys and excavations.

Last Updated: October 25, 2009 at 01:31 EST