More than 1,200 years ago, a group of ancestral Caddo built a village and ceremonial center here. Today, three earthen mounds, still considered sacred to Caddo people, rise from the lush Piney Woods landscape. Learn how the Caddo lived on the land through exhibits and programs.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m
Tickets
Adult $5
Senior/Veteran/Teacher/First Responder $3
Child (6-17) $2
Child (5 and under) Free
Family (2 adults & 1 child) $8, each additional child $1
See the site
Plan Your Visit
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site is a prehistoric village and ceremonial center located on the original El Camino Real de los Tejas.
Plan a Field Trip
Guided field trips are scheduled for groups of 15 or more; not counting underaged siblings or chaperones.
Caddo Mounds History
The Caddo selected this site for a permanent settlement about A.D. 800.
Events at Caddo Mounds
Adventures in Nature: A Caddo Mounds Creative STEM Camp
Saturday 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Join us for six days of nature adventures and family fun. Adventures in Nature is a STEM camp designed for families to learn and explore together. Learn about five different ecological systems and Caddo culture while being creative.
Adventures in Nature: A Caddo Mounds Creative STEM Camp
Sunday 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.During a six-day Creative STEM family experience, community partners and families will explore Caddo Mounds SHS and engage with five different ecosystems through a braided Creative STEM approach. In this braided approach, families will explore land conservation through the strands of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), the Arts, and Western-based Science. For ages 8-11. There is no Fee. This camp is offered in association with a National Science Foundation Grant and is free for families. Each Family will receive a $25 gas card for each of the 6 days they attend. Lunch and snacks are provided. Families commit to all six days of camp. May 4&5; June 1&2, 8&9 from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm.
Family Garden Camp - Growing in Snake Woman’s Garden
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.During the fall growing season, Caddo Mounds State Historic Site will host a series of Family Garden programs on six Wednesday mornings. Growing Together in Snake Woman’s Garden will focus on key gardening concepts while weaving in Caddo agricultural culture. Families will learn about the connection between plants, animals, and humans as it relates to growing food, flowers, and herbs. There will be hands-on activities in the garden and opportunities to taste healthy foods, We welcome families to sign up for all 6 sessions, but each day will also be a stand-alone learning opportunity. Each camp has a $10 registration/supply fee per family. If your family plans to attend all six camps there is a $30 registration/supply fee per family for all six camps! Register by calling 936-858-3218. Camp Dates: October 2, 16 & 30; November 6 & 20; and December 4, 2024.
Caddo Mounds in the Blog
The Grass of Home
Grass houses at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site were usually occupied by one or two families. Building them was an effort that involved the whole town.
A Trail Through Texas History: El Camino Real de los Tejas
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail was designated as part of the National Trails System by the U.S. Congress in 2004, but its story started far earlier, as a series of routes laid by Indigenous Texans and later followed by Spanish colonists, French explorers, Anglo-American settlers, and enslaved people seeking freedom.
Historic Road Trip: Nacogdoches and San Augustine
Known as the “Oldest Town in Texas,” Nacogdoches takes immense pride in its history. In fact, the entire downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Nacogdoches honors its heritage through a statue of the city’s founder, Gil Y’Barbo, and numerous historical museums, each conserving a different part of the town’s 241-year legacy. In reality, its settlement is much older—Caddo Indians arrived in this area 10,000 years prior to the city’s establishment.
Support Our Historic Sites
Make a gift to the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the historic sites of the THC.
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