The Great American Expedition Comes to Effigy Mounds National Monument

When your school board votes, Decorah News is there to report. Chip in to keep your voice in the room. HARPERS FERRY, Iowa — Effigy Mounds National Monument will celebrate the National Park Service's long tradition of protecting and managing the nation's natural and cultural resources while commemorating America's 250th anniversary with a series of events. The Great American Expedition — Aug. 29 Park staff will host The Great American Expedition from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 29. Visitors can earn an Effigy Mounds Junior Ranger badge by participating in activities including atlatl demonstrations, hiking and more. At noon, participants will gather for a group photo with the Freedom 250 Expedition flag. All ages are welcome. Other activities during National Park Week, Aug. 22-30 Marching Bears Hike — Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m.Join park rangers for a hike to the Marching Bears mound group in the South Unit. Meet the ranger at the Day Use area along Highway 76 and the Mississippi River. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip, with a steep incline to the top of the bluffs. Science in Action: Think Like a Citizen Scientist — Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to noonJoin park rangers and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois on the North Unit prairie to learn to identify invasive plants, collect data and assist the park and Wild Spotter in tracking environmental changes. Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts can earn their Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey badge by registering through Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. National Park Service Birthday Party — Aug. 25, 1 p.m.Join park rangers for a piece of cake celebrating the 110th birthday of the National Park Service. Visitors can stay to explore the museum and hiking trails. Upcoming fall events Fall Bioblitz/Monarch Tagging — Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Join park staff and subject matter experts from around the community to tag monarch butterflies for Monarch Watch. The event will be held on the park's North Unit prairie off Smokey Hollow Road. Participants can learn more about prairies and other pollinators. Railroad Explorer Junior Ranger Day — Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Learn about the railroads that follow the Mississippi River on both the Iowa and Wisconsin sides of the river and how they changed the landscape and the people. All ages are welcome. This is the Route of My Forefathers: The 1837 Ioway Map — Oct. 4, 1 p.m.William Green, Ph.D., will discuss his new book about the 1837 Ioway Map. The map was created by the Ioway during their removal to document their traditional lands. Green and the late Lance Foster, former tribal historic preservation officer for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, spent more than 30 years studying the map and its significance. Fall Colors Hike in the Heritage Addition — Oct. 10, 1 p.m.Join a park ranger for an approximately 4-mile hike in the Heritage Addition. The hike follows the old county road with little to no elevation change. Marching Bears Hike — Oct. 17, 1 p.m.Join park rangers for a hike to the Marching Bears mound group in the South Unit. Meet the ranger at the Day Use area along Highway 76 and the Mississippi River. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip, with a steep incline to the top of the bluffs. Old Military Road Hike — Oct. 25, 1 p.m.Join Joshua Wachuta, Ph.D., and park rangers for a hike to the Military Road in the South Unit. Wachuta will discuss the relationship of the road to the Treaties of Prairie du Chien and the 1830 Indian Removal Act. Meet at the Day Use area along Highway 76 and the Mississippi River. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip, with a steep incline to the top of the bluffs. 2026 Hiking Challenge Participants in the 2026 hiking challenge can earn a patch by taking a picture at each hike and showing it to a ranger. North Unit hike to Twin Pikes: 3 miles round trip, with the first 400 feet of elevation considered steep. South Unit hike to Compound Mound: 3 miles round trip, with the first 400 to 600 feet considered steep. Heritage Addition to Founders Pond: 3 miles round trip and flat. Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, including some shaped like animals. The monument is 3 miles north of Marquette, Iowa, and 22 miles south of Waukon on Highway 76. For more information, call 563-873-3491, ext. 123, or visit nps.gov/effigymounds. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.