Summer solstice walks June 21

SPIRO — The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will hold a special guided tour on the summer solstice, June 21. There will be three walks led by archaeologist Dennis Peterson starting at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Each walk will include one mile of easy walking and last about two hours.

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 talk about the reasons the mounds were built, and the alignment of 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. walk will allow the observation of twilight wildlife and a view of the sunset, which is the most important part of the event.

There is a small fee for this series of tours of $5 for adults and $3 for children, in addition to the regular daily admission fee. Oklahoma Historical Society and Spiro Mounds Development Association members do not pay the daily admission fee. No reservations are required, except for large groups. Payment can be made by cash or check, but credit cards are not accepted.

The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma open to visitors. The interpretive center and trails regularly are open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. The center is located three miles east of Spiro on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road. If you need further information about the Summer Solstice Walks or the center, please call 918-962-2062.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

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