A private, expert-led dawn walk through the largest prehistoric earthwork city north of Mexico — a UNESCO World Heritage Site most cruise passengers never hear of.
What to expect
You meet your guide before general opening hours and walk directly to Monks Mound, the largest pre-Columbian earthen structure in the Americas, climbing its 100+ steps as the sun rises over the Mississippi floodplain. Your guide explains how a city of 15,000+ people once thrived here, larger than London at the time. You continue to Woodhenge, a reconstructed solar calendar of timber posts, before finishing at the interpretive center's exhibits.
Good to know
About 25 minutes from Alton's riverfront by car; arrange private guide access in advance since the visitor center itself opens at 9am. This is the single most historically significant stop near Alton and shouldn't be skipped for time.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Alton — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.