Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center Spiro Mounds is the only prehistoric archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public.

The mounds at Spiro, Oklahoma, are among the most important archaeological remains in the United States. A remarkable assemblage of artifacts from the mounds shows that prehistoric Spiro people created a sophisticated culture which influenced the entire Southeast. There was an extensive trade network, a highly developed religious center, and a political system which controlled the region. Located

on a bend in the Arkansas River, the site was a natural gateway between societies to the east and the west, a gateway at which Spiro people exerted their influence. Yet much of the Spiro culture is still a mystery, including the reasons for the decline and abandonment of the site.

The administration of Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center was transferred to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1893. The...
05/27/2026

The administration of Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center was transferred to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1893. The Society was founded on this day in 1893, in the building pictured below. Happy Anniversary to the OHS!

Less than a month to go until our next Solstice Walks event! Hopefully we will have drier weather than what we have rece...
05/23/2026

Less than a month to go until our next Solstice Walks event! Hopefully we will have drier weather than what we have received this past week. Have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend, everybody!

This photo of the reconstructed Craig Mound appeared in the Oklahoma Times on the last day of 1983, five years after t...
05/21/2026

This photo of the reconstructed Craig Mound appeared in the Oklahoma Times on the last day of 1983, five years after the opening of the site. Because the mound was so heavily damaged in the 1930s, it had to be rebuilt in the 1970s. The reconstruction was based on photos of Craig Mound that were taken by Joseph Thoburn in 1913.

May 16th is National Love a Tree Day! We love this pecan tree out on the trail by Craig Mound. 😍
05/16/2026

May 16th is National Love a Tree Day! We love this pecan tree out on the trail by Craig Mound. 😍

Next month we'll be doing another Solstice Walks event! We hope you can all brave the Oklahoma heat and join us for a to...
05/14/2026

Next month we'll be doing another Solstice Walks event! We hope you can all brave the Oklahoma heat and join us for a tour at either 11 AM or 7 PM on Saturday, June 20th. No reservations needed except for large groups. The walk is included with your admission cost. Refreshments will be provided. If you have any questions, please give us a call or message us directly here on Facebook.

Happy 48th anniversary to Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center! The Center opened on this day in 1978, and is still the on...
05/09/2026

Happy 48th anniversary to Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center! The Center opened on this day in 1978, and is still the only precontact archaeological site in Oklahoma that is open to the public. Thanks so much to those who have supported us over the years. We look forward to sharing improvements with you as our renovation projects progress.

On this day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Works Progress Administratio...
05/06/2026

On this day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Works Progress Administration (WPA). While most of us associate the WPA with the construction of bridges, highways, and parks, it also launched one of the biggest eras in the history of American archaeology.

When the Great Depression left millions across the country without jobs, the WPA helped put them to work. From coast to coast, everyday Americans were trained to excavate some of the nation's most significant archaeological sites, including Spiro. You can learn more about the history of WPA archaeology at Spiro and elsewhere in Oklahoma in the book “Spiro Mounds and WPA Archaeology in Oklahoma” by Scott Hammerstedt and Amanda Regnier.

(📷 Texas Beyond History / Sam Noble Museum)

What did people eat at Spiro?Food here included more than just corn. Native plants like chenopodium (sometimes called go...
05/03/2026

What did people eat at Spiro?

Food here included more than just corn. Native plants like chenopodium (sometimes called goosefoot) were an important food source, along with other cultivated and gathered plants, such as persimmons and paw paw.

These crops were well adapted to the local environment and were part of a broader food system that supported daily life along the Arkansas River.

📷 Arkansas Archeological Survey

Here are some photos from ! Went out to Skullyville to clean up the marker just outside the Choctaw National Cemetery. ...
04/30/2026

Here are some photos from ! Went out to Skullyville to clean up the marker just outside the Choctaw National Cemetery. It had a bit of lichen on it but now it's all cleaned up! Thanks to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for this initiative that helps keep our country's historical markers visible to all!

In honor of , here’s a look at a couple of roadside markers east of Spiro along Highway 9/US 271! These two are holding...
04/25/2026

In honor of , here’s a look at a couple of roadside markers east of Spiro along Highway 9/US 271! These two are holding up well and don’t need much cleaning at all.

We did spot another marker in the area (not pictured) that could use some TLC, so we’ll be heading out tomorrow to spruce it up as part of the cleanup initiative started by the in 2021. Check back next week for before-and-after photos!

Address

18154 1st Street
Spiro, OK
74959

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(918) 962-2062

Website

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