Cherokee Nation presents unique group tour to ‘Cahokia Mounds’ in St. Louis

The Cherokee Nation presents a unique group tour to Cahokia Mounds in St. Louis on May 31-June 3, 2012.
The Cahokians, Cherokees and other members of the Five Civilized Tribes were mound builders during the Mississippian era from 1000 to 1500 A.D. During this time, the Cahokia Mounds was larger than the city of London and considered one of the greatest cities in the world.
The Cherokee people used the Mississippian customs to construct the Kituwah and Nikwasi Mounds in present day North Carolina during the height of the Mississippian era. The Etowah Mounds and others in the northwest area in present day Georgia were built towards the end of the Mississippian era.
 "The Cherokees' ancestral mounds are part of a much larger network of Mississippian mounds stretching across the southeastern United States,” said Cathy S. Monholland, history and cultural curriculum specialist at Cherokee Nation. “All mound-building cultures, including the Cherokees, thrived during the Mississippian era, and all shared the same horticulture, elaborate ceremonies, and an iconographic (picture) writing system with over 60 different tribes. Learning about the Cahokians will be another good way to learn about our ancestors, the Cherokees.”
The Cahokia Mounds group tour will travel from Tulsa to St. Louis and explore a variety of sites along the way including Cahokia Mounds, St. Louis Gateway Arch, Westward Expansion Museum and St. Louis Art Museum among other sites.

The Cahokia Mounds group tour is open to the public and the cost per person is $329.31 double occupancy and $499.28 single occupancy, which includes hotel accommodations, transportation, entrance fees to all attractions, breakfasts and one lunch.
A 50 percent deposit fee per person and a signed copy of a booking agreement must be received by March 30, 2012, to guarantee a position. Final payment must be received no later than April 30, 2012.
The Cherokee Nation Cahokia Mounds group tour departs from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa and Cherokee Nation Gift Shop Tahlequah for the Crown Plaza Hotel in St. Louis and specifically includes:

Day 1 – Thursday, May 31:
- Group meets at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
- Group travels together to Cherokee Nation Gift Shop Tahlequah.
- Depart for Missouri.
- Arrive in St. Louis.
- Hotel Check-in – Crown Plaza.
- Dinner – On own.

Day 2 – Friday, June 1:
- Depart for Cahokia Mounds.
- Tour: Cahokia Mounds.
- Lunch – Cahokia Mounds.
- Depart/Arrive at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard – On own.
- Depart for St. Louis.
- Arrive at Crown Plaza Hotel.
- Dinner – On own.

Day 3 – Saturday, June 2:
- Depart for St. Louis Gateway Arch and Westward Expansion Museum.
- Tour: St. Louis Gateway Arch and Westward Expansion Museum.
- Depart for St. Louis Art Museum.
- Tour: St. Louis Art Museum.
- Lunch – St. Louis Art Museum Café – On own.
- Depart for Crown Plaza Hotel.
- Dinner on own or farewell group dinner.

Day 4 – Sunday, June 3:
- Depart St. Louis.
- Lunch – Springfield, Mo.
- Depart for Tahlequah, Okla.
- Arrive at Cherokee Nation Complex.
- Depart for Catoosa.
- Arrive at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

For additional information or booking for the Cahokia Mounds group tour, please contact Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism at (877) 779-6977 or cherokee.tourism@cnent.com.