Five Decades of Public Interpretation at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

During nearly five decades of working in public archaeology at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, I have witnessed and experienced the importance of public awareness of archaeology and American Indian cultures but also have seen the need to overcome stereotypes the public has about both. This has been accomplished at Cahokia Mounds through exhibits, public field schools, on- and off-site presentations, special events, lecture series, publications, social media, and events with Native American participation. I will review the philosophy and planning behind these various approaches and how they have evolved over the years.