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All the United States Illinois West Chicago Winfield Mounds
AO Edited

Winfield Mounds

Burial mounds of prehistoric Native Americans who lived along the DuPage River.

West Chicago, Illinois

Added By
Rich Kraetsch
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Winfield Mounds   richkraetsch / Atlas Obscura User
  apbreuhan / Atlas Obscura User
Winfield Mounds   richkraetsch / Atlas Obscura User
Winfield Mounds   richkraetsch / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Winfield Mounds were crafted by Native Americans who lived along the West Branch of the DuPage River, now West Chicago. The three mounds dome-shaped and set in a triangular pattern. This happens to be the only documented prehistoric burial/effigy site in DuPage County.

Unfortunately, vandals dug up the mounds during the early 20th-century, and years later, research-oriented digs by the University of Chicago and Wheaton College removed all artifacts and permanently damaged the mounds. 

In 1998, volunteers reconstructed three low round mounds to mark the historically significant Winfield Mounds site, while also constructing a trail and interpretive signs to educate visitors.

Related Tags

Native Americans Burial Places History & Culture

Know Before You Go

To reach the Winfield Mounds site, take the Illinois Prairie Path near Winfield Road and follow the limestone path until you reach a fork or T in the path. You'll also see a plaque describing the mounds.

Go left about 100 yards to a clearing with a slightly worn wood-chip path, turn right and walk through the meadow. You'll be walking in the meadow for a while but don't worry, it's coming soon! You'll come to another clearing where you'll see another plaque describing the mounds.

Community Contributors

Added By

richkraetsch

Edited By

praber, davidromito, archon2001, Collector of Experiences...

  • praber
  • davidromito
  • archon2001
  • Collector of Experiences
  • apbreuhan

Published

June 18, 2021

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Sources
  • https://www.dupageforest.org/blog/winfield-mounds-history
  • https://www.dupageforest.org/blog/winfield-mounds-history
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi9A_Zy7Fog
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=440Cjljp6Rk
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fDFyBpTWSY
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a4Xl4EYJEY
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I9FJh6owpc
Winfield Mounds
28W165 Geneva Rd
West Chicago, Illinois, 60185
United States
41.884449, -88.169652
Visit Website
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