Moundville Archaeological Park. (Matthew Niblett / The Bama Buzz)

Monday, October 14 is Indigenous People’s Day—a holiday that honors the legacy of those who inhabited the United States before Columbus’ arrival.

Alabama was once home to thousands of Indigenous peoples, leaving behind one of the densest collections of monuments and sites in North America, according to the Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail.

Today, nine tribes are still recognized by the state. The Indigenous Mound Trail and Poarch Creek Museum allow you to discover their history—and the history of tribes no longer in Alabama.

The Indigenous Mound Trail

Florence Mounds — The Florence Mound on the bank of the Tennessee River. (Bess Christopher / The Bama Buzz)

The Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail is a collection of Native American historical sites across the state. The trail says the peak for monument construction was between 1000 A.D. and 1500 A.D. when Mississippian mounds were erected as cultural centers in regions across the state.

It includes 13 sites:

Florence Indian Mound: The cultural center for Tennessee Valley Native Americans. | More info
The Choccolocco Creek Archaeological Complex: A collection of at least three mounds around a natural spring. | More info
Gulf State Park Sand and Shell Mounds: a unique testament to the advanced community centers and trading operations established by Gulf Coast Native Americans. | More info
The Coker Ford Site: An architectural site dedicated to one of the largest most elaborate Native communities in Alabama. | More info
Indian Shell Mound Park: An area of Dauphin Island likely used for seasonal travel for Natives up north. | More info
The Fuller Site: A Coastal Alabama monument that showcases the unique shellfish diets of local Native groups. | More info
Moundville Archaeological Park: The largest mound complex in the Southeast, preserving the history of the people who dominated Alabama pre-colonialism. | More info
The Hamilton Mound: A collection of three mounds in Northwest Alabama. | More info
Oakville Indian Mounds: A complex with one of the largest platform mounds in Alabama. | More info
The Mound at Fort Toulouse – Fort Jackson Park: A settlement related to the larger Moundville, but at a more strategic location to better control river trade along the Alabama River. | More info
The Bessemer Site: A cluster of mounds near modern-day Birmingham. | More info
The Mound at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park: The remnants of the political center of the Mississippian culture that dominated the region. | More info
The Bottle Creek Site: Alabama’s second-largest mound and an ancient ceremonial site near Axis. | More info

Poarch Creek Indians Museum & Welcome Center

Poarch Creek Pow Wow (Poarch Creek Indians) Tribe In Alabama — PCI is known for many cultural events, like the Poarch Creek Pow Wow. (Poarch Creek Indians)

Alabama’s only federally recognized tribe, the Poarch Creek Indians, has largely remained on its ancestral land for the last 200 years.

The Poarch Creek Indians are descendants of the Creek Indians, whose reach covered most of Alabama and Georgia. Today, they operate the Wind Creek Casinos and OWA amusement park.

You can explore the history of the Poarch Creek Indians at their FREE museum and welcome center. Here’s everything you need to know: