Durbin seeks national park status for Cahokia Mounds

[bluedigger]

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - An ongoing effort to get an ancient southwestern Illinois historical site designated as a national park is getting a boost from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.

The Democrat and East St. Louis native on Thursday sent a letter asking President Obama to declare the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville as a national monument. The request comes two years after the National Park Service began to study that prospect.

The property is designated by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site. It's also a national historic landmark, a lesser designation.

Cahokia is believed to have been inhabited from 700 to 1400 A.D. and was among the most complex societies of ancient North America.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/illinois/durbin-seeks-national-park-status-for-cahokia-mounds/159585240

Illinois has done a good job with Cahokia so far, but the site is too important not to have Federally protected status in the future, as their own State museum agrees.

[murielm99]

1. Maybe it would get some funding then,

since the Ruiner refuses to sign a budget for our state.

Good for Durbin. This is a wonderful place.

[turbinetree]

2. These ancient mounds which I visited are amazing------------------

here is some more information on this site---------------------it deserves recognition

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/il-cahokia.html

[eppur_se_muova]

3. About time ... hundreds if not thousands of mounds have been destroyed by "development".

Last edited Sun May 1, 2016, 10:11 AM - Edit history (1)

I know Cahokia may be safe from that, but it deserves a higher profile.

[Coventina]

4. Long overdue, IMHO.

[L. Coyote]

5. Long overdue for Illinois to fund their parks system adequately.

Thjis is being sought because of budget issues, not because they think it is a great idea. It was a great idea long ago, before the money dried up.

[lpbk2713]

6. If we wait to leave it up to a rethug administration ...

it will never happen. They don't see the value in something like this.