•February 7, 2018•

By Susan Sarkauskas and Diane Dungey
Of the Daily Herald

Centuries ago Illinois was home to the largest and most influential city in what would become the United States, rivaling the size of European cities at the time.

As many as 20,000 people ­­— double that if surrounding communities are included — lived about 1,000 years ago in the elaborate planned city that now lies within the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.

Cahokia, east of St. Louis, includes woodhenges — large sun calendars that were built of red cedar posts — and at least 120 mounds and pyramids used to support important buildings and for burials.

Yet, Cahokia is only part of Illinois’ rich American Indian heritage.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.