Dickson Mounds
Dickson Mounds is a Native American settlement site and burial mound complex near Lewistown, Illinois. The months with the kindest weather are April, May, June, September and October, at 64–83°F.
A museum, 4 mi southeast of Lewistown
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Canton, 15 miles north. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 17°, with about 28" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 64–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather through the year
Use the months below to time a visit to Dickson Mounds.
Dickson Mounds
Dickson Mounds is a Native American settlement site and burial mound complex near Lewistown, Illinois. It is located in Fulton County on a low bluff overlooking the Illinois River. It is a large burial complex containing at least two cemeteries, ten superimposed burial mounds, and a platform mound. The Dickson Mounds site was founded by 800 CE and was in use until after 1250 CE. The site is named in honor of chiropractor Don Dickson, who began excavating it in 1927 and opened a private museum that formerly operated on the site. Its exhibition of the 237 uncovered skeletons displayed by Dickson was closed in 1992 by then-Gov. Jim Edgar.
Don Dickson was a chiropractor and discovered the burial mounds on his family farm. Instead of removing the bones, he only removed the dirt. He covered his excavation with a tent. He later replaced his tent with a building and set up a private museum.
- Type
- Museum
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1972)
- Wikipedia readers
- 8.8K a year
Overnight near Dickson Mounds
The nearest towns with places to stay are Lewistown Township (4) and Havana (4), and Peoria has the most rooms in the area (37).
Lewistown Township
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
2,562 people
5 mi northwest of Dickson Mounds
Peoria
The most places to stay in the area, and a base for a longer trip.
110,920 people
38 mi northeast of Dickson Mounds
Compare 9 towns
| Town | From Dickson Mounds | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown Township | 5 mi northwest | 5 min | 4 2 hotels · 2 campgrounds | 2,562 | $115K | — |
| Havana | 5 mi southeast | 5 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 2,799 | $95K | D |
| Havana Township | 7 mi southeast | 10 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 4,170 | $102K | — |
| Lewistown | 4 mi northwest | 5 min | 2 2 hotels | 1,962 | $102K | — |
| Canton | 15 mi north | 25 min | 7 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 13,297 | $107K | — |
| Canton Township | 17 mi north | 25 min | 6 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 13,770 | $109K | — |
| Putman Township | 9 mi north | 15 min | 1 1 lodge or cabins | 1,907 | $103K | — |
| Quiver Township | 10 mi east | 15 min | 1 1 campground | 669 | $88K | — |
| Peoria | 38 mi northeast | 1 hr | 37 32 hotels · 3 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 110,920 | $156K | D− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Nearby, too
Other well-known places within 55 miles.
Big draw44 mi LandmarkLincoln Tomb
46 mi National Historic SiteLincoln Home National Historic Site124K visitors a year
130 mi MuseumLincoln's New Salem45 mi National MonumentSpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
45 mi MuseumOld State Capitol State Historic Site
54 mi MuseumCarthage Jail
33 mi Zoo & aquariumWildlife Prairie Park
45 mi MuseumIllinois State MuseumPhoto credits
Lincoln Tomb: David Jones, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Lincoln Home National Historic Site: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lincoln's New Salem: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Old State Capitol State Historic Site: Shadow2700 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Carthage Jail: Nyttend, Public domain · Wildlife Prairie Park: Katherine Johnson, CC BY 2.0 · Illinois State Museum: Mike Linksvayer from Oakland, California, CC0
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Quick answers on Dickson Mounds
What town is Dickson Mounds near?
Lewistown, IL, about 4 miles northwest.
When is the best time to visit Dickson Mounds?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 64–83°.
What is the closest airport to Dickson Mounds?
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria (PIA), about 31 miles away. The nearest big hub is St. Louis Lambert (STL), about 112 miles.
Where should I stay near Dickson Mounds?
Lewistown Township (5 mi, 4 places to stay), Havana (5 mi, 4 places to stay) and Havana Township (7 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from Lewistown
Questions and tips go in Lewistown’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.