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
Traditional Caddo Pottery with Chase Kahwinhut Earles (Class Three)
Class Three: Making the Pot - July 5, 6 & 7
Are you interested in the traditional methods of ancient pottery making? This workshop, traditional Caddo Pottery with Chase Kahwinhut Earles, is a rare opportunity to experience the traditions of Caddo pottery from digging the clay to firing the pot. - Workshop Full -
Caddo Artist Series Artist Talk - Jackie Bullard Basket Maker
Caddo citizen and basket maker, Jackie Bullard, shares her journey as a Caddo scholar and basket maker.
Caddo Artist Series Workshop - Jackie Bullard and Pine Needle Baskets
Join Caddo citizen and basket maker, Jackie Bullard to create your own pine needle basket.
Caddo Mounds in the Blog
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.
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site Pays Tribute to the First Farmers of the Area
At Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Alto, we are exploring and teaching about the land management, farming, and foraging practices of the early Caddo people through the knowledge of scientists (archeologists and botanists), historians, anthropologists, and the Caddo people.
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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