From cliff dwellings to massive earthen mounds, America’s ancient ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. Ready for a journey through time? Add these extraordinary ruins to your travel bucket list!
1. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Step back in time at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, where over 600 cliff dwellings tell the story of the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived here for more than 700 years. The star of the show? The Cliff Palace, the largest-known cliff dwelling in North America, built between 1190 and 1280 CE. With over 100 rooms, this ancient structure still stands strong – check it out on a 45-minute guided tour.
2. Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
Nestled between Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park once buzzed with life. This sprawling site was a major hub for the Ancestral Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 CE. The highlight? Pueblo Bonito, a “great house” with 600 rooms, towering four stories tall! With 400 miles of ancient roads and buildings still visible, you can almost imagine the 5,000 people who once called this place home.
3. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois
At its peak, Cahokia Mounds in Illinois was home to around 20,000 residents, making it the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. Explore the 65 earthen mounds on a guided tour, and don’t miss Monks Mound, a 100-foot-tall earthwork with sweeping views at the top. If you’re feeling adventurous, take the five-mile nature hike to explore the more remote areas of this ancient site.
4. Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the U.S. For over 1,000 years, the adobe buildings of Taos Pueblo have stood at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. Wander through this village on your own, or take a guided tour to get more insight into the traditions that continue to thrive in this living piece of history.
5. Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico feels like a real-life history book – ancient people dwelled here for more than 11,000 years! As you explore these 33,000 acres of canyon and mesa country, you’ll see ancient cliff dwellings, stone masonry structures, and petroglyphs. Don’t miss the Tsankawi section, where a mesa-top trail boasts panoramic views and an unexcavated Ancestral Pueblo village, complete with ladders leading to hidden paths and ruins.
6. Poverty Point World Heritage Site, Louisiana
Head to Poverty Point World Heritage Site in northeastern Louisiana for some of the largest earthworks in North America. Constructed between 1700 and 1100 BC, these massive mounds and ridges are a testament to the engineering skills of the Poverty Point culture. You can explore the site on your own or with a park ranger, then attend a prehistoric cooking or ancient tool-making demonstration to see history come to life!
7. Moundville Archaeological Park, Alabama
Step back into the 14th century at Moundville Archaeological Park in Alabama, known as the “Big Apple” of its time. This sprawling site features 29 flat-topped mounds arranged around an extensive central plaza. Wander the grounds, then visit the onsite museum to view ancient artifacts, including the stone Rattlesnake Disk, one of the most famous works of art from the Native American Mississippian culture.
8. Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado and Utah
Straddling the border of Colorado and Utah, Hovenweep National Monument provides a glimpse into six prehistoric villages built between AD 1200 and 1300. These ruins, including multi-story towers perched dramatically on canyon rims, were once the home of over 2500 Native Americans. Explore the D-shaped structures and circular kivas while imagining life in this ancient desert landscape.
9. Serpent Mound, Ohio
The mysterious Serpent Mound in Ohio is a must-visit if you love reptiles. This effigy mound is shaped like a snake with a coiled tail and was built by Native Americans around 900 years ago. Climb the observation tower for the best view of this massive symbol. Plan your visit on the second or fourth Friday of the month to join a guided walking tour led by a local archaeologist.
10. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Georgia
Discover over 17,000 years of Native American history at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Georgia. Start your journey at the visitor center with a quick introductory film, then head out to explore seven mounds and eight miles of scenic hiking trails. Step inside the Earth Lodge, dating back to 1015 CE, and marvel at its original dirt floor that has survived for centuries.
11. Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
Tucked into a limestone cliff, Montezuma Castle is a 20-room ancient apartment complex rising 100 feet above the ground! Built nearly 1,000 years ago by the Sinagua people, this intriguing structure will give you a look into the lives of its former residents. Take a ranger-led tour, explore the onsite museum, and wander the scenic trails at the base of the cliff, showcasing an ancient sycamore grove.
12. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico
Adventure awaits at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, where the Mogollon people carved out their homes in rugged cliffs over 800 years ago. While you’ll have to climb over 200 steps to reach the ruins, it’s worth the hike. You’ll see the ancient rooms where the Mogollon raised children, made pottery, and lived their daily lives for two generations. Don’t forget to check out the hiking trails leading to natural hot springs!
13. Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa
Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa isn’t only one of the most beautiful areas of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, it’s also home to over 200 mounds from 20 different Native American tribes. Explore several effigy mounds shaped like bears, birds, and other animals throughout this lush, bright green landscape. If you’re here in the summer, book a guided tour to learn more about this Native American culture and its mound-building history.
14. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona
Located in the Arizona desert, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves the ancient remnants of the Hohokam people. The centerpiece of this site is the “Great House,” a four-story structure built around 1350 AD and believed to have been used for ceremonies and gatherings. Stroll through the desert grounds to explore this ancient ruin, plus a nearby ball court and platform mounds.
15. Wupatki National Monument, Arizona
At Wupatki National Monument, you’ll find the largest free-standing pueblo in northern Arizona: Wupatki Pueblo. View this structure from the overlook behind the visitors center, or check it out up close after a half-mile hike to the site. Set against the backdrop of volcanic rock and painted desert landscapes, this sprawling complex was once a hub for trade and agriculture for the Ancestral Pueblo people. Learn more about their culture on a ranger-led hike!
16. SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park, Ohio
Step into the world of the Fort Ancient people at SunWatch Indian Village in Dayton, Ohio. This living history site features reconstructed indigenous huts, a central plaza, and gardens replicating life over 800 years ago. As you explore the grounds and the onsite museum, you’ll learn about the customs, daily life, and cultural practices of the Native Americans who once thrived here from 1150 to 1450 CE.
17. Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, Ohio
Fort Ancient in Ohio is home to the largest hilltop earthworks in North America, built by the Hopewell culture between 100 BC and AD 500. Spanning 100 acres, these massive earthen mounds and walls were likely used for ceremonial, social, and astronomical purposes. After walking through the ancient earthworks, explore scenic nature trails and visit the museum to discover artifacts and exhibits about the Hopewell people.
18. Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona
Rising from the sunbaked hills of Arizona’s Verde Valley, Tuzigoot National Monument is home to the ruins of a 1,000-year-old Sinagua village. Because this 110-room village is perched on a limestone ridge, you’ll get beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape as you explore the ruins. Wander along interpretive trails and visit the onsite museum for a peek into the daily lives of the Sinagua people.
19. Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, California
If you love ancient art, you can’t miss Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park in the mountains of Santa Barbara. Step inside the small cave to discover brilliant, centuries-old pictographs of animals and celestial symbols telling stories of ceremonial importance. Check out the intricate artwork up close through a gated entrance, then explore the surrounding area, which has plenty of scenic hiking trails.
20. Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico
Protecting one of the largest petroglyph sites in America, New Mexico’s Petroglyph National Monument features thousands of ancient symbols and images carved into volcanic rock by Native American and Spanish settlers over the past 3,000 years. Be sure to bring your hiking shoes – several trails lead through scenic volcanic landscapes showcasing these fascinating rock carvings, ranging from animals and human figures to symbols and geometric patterns.
