pinson mounds state park

We didn't have time to check out the museum or hike the many trails, but we did enjoy climbing to the top of the very tall mound and learning a little about the people who built it.All in all, a very nice break from a long drive.

We went to archeofest this year and we really enjoyed the time we spent there. We interned on going back once it cools off a bit. There are a lot of walking trails. If you enjoy spending time in nature, you will enjoy spending time here.

In a land now American, once claimed by the Spanish and English, and inhabited by the Muscogee at the time of De Soto's arrogant intrusion, is evidence of a culture as sophisticated, if not in some cases more sophisticated, than that of their European contemporaries. There is evidence of a continent-wide trade system with Great Lakes copper, Gulf and Caribbean shells, and a vast array of trade items from California to New England on site. This site holds a very educational museum that serves as a storehouse for archaeological evidence for the surrounding region. This is also significant as it holds Woodland Era (800 BC-800 AD) artifacts and demonstrates a highly articulated society and agricultural technology. As far back as seven thousand years ago, they even buried their pet dogs with the evident reverence we offer man's best friend today. It was quite an experience my wife and I enjoyed. The main mound is the 72 feet high Saul's Mound, from which one can observe for miles to the far mountain ridges. There are many others to observe at the sight as well. The Folks at the museum were friendly and helpful, and I'm sure you will enjoy the visit.

ust a little hole in the wall they have drilled into the mound and have made a gift shop and museum and theres a walking trail up on top of an indian mound.

We enjoyed seeing the artifacts in the museum and learned a lot from the film, despite the soundtrack! The film is older but informational. The lady at the museum was nice and enjoyed telling us about the mounds and the history. We were disappointed that we couldn't see the mounds that were excavated because the trail is quite swampy and unkept. We walked some of the trails and really enjoyed the boardwalk. We were intrigued by the mounds that are throughout the park and climbed Saul's mound. You can see a little bit of a view but much of it is blocked because of the trees.

I have been to Pinson Mounds several times and love it every time. It is a place where you can enjoy history, nature and outdoor recreation all at the same time. There is a museum where you can view a wide variety of Native American artifacts, most of them derived from the local area. You can also watch a film in the museum that explains the excavation of the mounds. The whole park is well-maintained and makes walking easy and safe. The trails around the mounds are marked and offer information so you know what you are looking at.

I only had a little time, but didn't want to miss the mounds. Good museum with much more artifacts than most. The volunteer wasn't incredibly friendly or helpful, but maybe she was busy. Got to enjoy the challenge of walking to the top of Saul's Mound. Like other say, you can't see anything due to the trees but you can say you did it!

If you're into history, you will probably enjoy this place. It's a bit off the beaten path but worth the drive. There are a great number of mounds here but many of them are just a slight rise in the ground. The big mound is impressive but as someone else has stated, climbing to the top won't get you anything but bragging rights, you can't see anything for the trees.They had a pretty good film about research into the mounds, and they have a lot of arrowheads, tools, etc that they found in and around the mounds.If you have a bicycle bring it and ride the good, level, paved trails. Otherwise there is a LOT of walking.I live about 75 miles away and have visited them several times and ALWAYS enjoy it.

We have been to many Tennessee parks. They all offer a variety of activities and nature items that are unique to each park. This park is no exception. The park has plaques that identify artifacts and mounds. There is a paved path around the park with other walking trails. Make sure you get a map. If not you could get lost. The map is very clear and helpful. Don't miss Saul's Mound that you can climb. We went on a Sunday, so the museum was closed. The museum is closed on Sat. and Sundays. We enjoyed the hike around the mounds and board walk, but would have been able to see the whole park had we brought our bikes. There are bike rafts provided in areas you can not take your bike. We will come back during the week to visit the museum.

Went there with friends. Didn't realize there was so much walking, or I would've worn better shoes. I also didn't realize there were stairs to climb to the top of the mound. It was end of summer when we went, so everyone was hot and sweaty. If you go, be prepared for lots of walking and climbing.

Pinson Mounds State Park provided a morning of interesting information at the visitor's center/museum (the film was incredibly interesting, despite being rooted in 70's). Unique to the experience was that the visitor's center/museum resembled a mound--imaginative and fitting. The rangers were helpful and informative. Most enjoyable, though, was the maze of trails, supplemented with signs explaining various points of interest.

Take a few minutes and stop at this amazing site. The mounds are impressive! Take the time and walk around, I wish I had brought a bicycle with me and a pair of binoculars. Museum has some interesting items on display and there is plenty of room for a picnic. Very child friendly park.

Not much to look at when you first arrive, but once inside the mound and the exhibition center, you are totally amazed and bewildered at the technology found in ancient Indian tribes in West Tennessee.

This was our third stop for October 5 for my birthday. it is in a very small town in Tennessee just at the County lines between Madson and Chester Counties. The Pinsons Mounds State Park is made very interesting. The Gift & Museum shop is built like a temple would have been built by these indians.The artitfacts are really gran and if you like Indian History I would ask that if you are in West Tennessee for any reason stop and take a look around. There are mounds that you can step up to and if you have teens they will enjoy the mounds and the sites that you can see from the top of the Mounds.To take a Statement out of the pamplet that they gave us "The complex consist of at least 17 earthen mounds that encompass more than 400 acres of the 1200 acre park." there are walk ways and bike trails all over. Park and walk, park and bike,or drive and look you will love it.

This park is one of two archaeological state parks in Tennessee. The site was in use from about AD 1 to AD 500, in the Middle Woodland period. There are many mounds, some of them quite small, plus geometric earthworks. The site contains both burial mounds and ceremonial mounds. About six miles of trail connect the various parts of the site. The site is both on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.The largest mound is 72 feet high, making it the second highest mound in the U.S. There are stairs going up the mound, so it is possible to climb to the top. The park has kept the tree cover in place that has grown up since the site was in use, so there really isn’t a view from the top. At some other mound sites in the country, it is possible to see the layout of the site and its place in the broader landscape from the mound tops. I’m sure they have a good reason for making this decision, but it leaves no reason for climbing the mound that I can think of except to have the bragging rights of having climbed it. It is a very large, spread-out site, and if your time is limited, I’d suggest using your time to walk the trails and see as much of it as you can rather than spending it climbing the mound. If your time is very limited, at least take some time in the museum and then step outside to see the largest mound. Getting close to it, you can get a sense of how impressive it is, especially when you think of how it was built one basket-load of dirt at a time.The museum is built within a replica of a mound, and you enter through a door in the side of the “mound.” This is a clever way of incorporating the museum into the landscape in as least an intrusive way as possible. I think it may be the only place I’ve visited that has a sign saying “Please do not climb on museum.” The museum is small, but contains enough information for its focus, which is the culture sequence of the Eastern Woodlands in general and this mound site in particular. It displays artifacts found at the site as well as others from the larger region. They do a good job at presenting the information, but the one problem that I had was that the provenience of many of the artifacts wasn’t clearly indicated, making it hard to tell which ones were found there. It could give a visitor the impression that a large number of the artifacts were found locally that may not have been. This could give a distorted view of what the culture at this particular site was like. Some of the artifacts that are clearly labeled as having been found at the site came from as far away as Ohio, such as the copper artifacts, showing how extensive the trade network was at the time. The artifacts that I found the most interesting, and that I had not seen at other sites, were some carved rattles made from parts of human skulls.The trails wind through some beautiful wooded terrain, and would be pleasant for walks even if there weren’t the mounds and earthworks to see. The trails are level, making it an easy walk. The park also has picnic facilities and a playground, making it a good place for outings even for those without an interest in the history of the site. If you plan to make any purchases in the park’s small gift shop, be sure to bring cash. They are not set up to accept plastic.