Near North Riverfront in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Mounds Heritage Trail

Big Mound

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 10, 2019

1. Mounds Heritage Trail Big Mound Marker

Inscription. Big Mound was the largest mound in the St. Louis Mound Group. A ridge mound, 319 feet long, 158 feet wide, and 34 feet high Big Mound contained a burial chamber holding 20 to 30 individuals. Unfortunately, development in the City of St. Louis led to the complete destruction of Big Mound in 1869. By 1904 nearly all of the mounds in St. Louis had been destroyed. Today only Sugarloaf Mound remains; it is now owned and preserved by the Osage Nation. These mounds were constructed by ancestors of some of today's Indian nations. The site of Big Mound is great significance because of what it once was. This serves to commemorate the culture that once existed in this area, to honor the people who were once buried at this site, and to also remind us that there are living descendant's of that culture and the people who were once here.

Erected by Great Rivers Greenway.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 38° 38.592′ N, 90° 11.112′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in Near North Riverfront. It is on Mound Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 North Broadway, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Le Grange de Terre (Big Mound) (a few steps from this marker); Neighborhood Gardens Apartments (approx. half a mile away); Fr. Edward S. Filipiak Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Biddle Street Trailhead (approx. 0.6 miles away); AMDG Shrine of St. Joseph (approx. 0.6 miles away); Star Bucket Pump Company (approx. 0.8 miles away); 1993 (approx. 0.8 miles away); 1992 (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St.

Le Grange de Terre (Big Mound) Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 10, 2019

2. Le Grange de Terre (Big Mound) Plaque

Mounds Heritage Trail Big Mound marker is seen in the background, as well as I-70

Louis.

Additional commentary.
1. Spelling on the profile
The spelling on the profile has been taken verbatim from the marker, notably the use of descendant's instead of descendants.

— Submitted December 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

2. We need to clean this place up
First time visit and am quiet embarrassed by what I have seen. Trash everywhere top wall blocks unglued and broken on ground. Mound sign has spray paint in certain areas. I tried to locate a telephone number or address, nothing. Please if someone knows how to get this place back in shape please do so.

— Submitted April 27, 2024, by Leon Davidian of St. Louis, Missouri.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,839 times since then and 135 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.