Summer Solstice Walks at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center

Families can start the summer with a trip to the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center for a special guided tour on the summer solstice. There will be three walks led by archaeologist Dennis Peterson starting at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, and again at the same times on Saturday, June 21. Each walk will take one mile of easy walking and last about two hours. There is a $3 per adult and $2 per child fee for this event in addition to the daily admission fee.

Peterson will talk about the history of the mound site and the American Indians who built it more than 1,000 years ago. He also will discuss the reasons for the mounds and the alignment of the some of the mounds to track the movement of the sun throughout the year. Peterson will tell the history of the excavations of the site by both archaeologists and looters. The 7 p.m. walks will allow the observation of the sunset, which is the most important part of the event, and the twilight wildlife.

The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian site open to the public in Oklahoma and is administered by the Oklahoma Historical Society. The center is regularly open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. The center does close for state holidays. Daily admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1 for children older than six. The center is located three miles east of Spiro, Okla., on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road. For more information or to schedule a group or school tour during the solstice walks or some other time, please call 918-962-2062 or email spiro@okhistory.org.