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Sugarloaf Mound

Archaeology
In St. Louis, Missouri
2.2 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Sugarloaf Mound in St. Louis, MO, is the only platform mound of the Mississippian culture still standing in the city. St. Louis was once nicknamed Mound City for the roughly 40 earthen mounds that stood here, and this is the last of them. It is the oldest structure made by people within city limits, and it now belongs to the Osage Nation. It lies about 2 miles off the old road.

What is Sugarloaf Mound?

A platform mound is a large earthwork with a flattened top, built by hand from soil. Sugarloaf is the sole survivor of the many mounds that once gave early St. Louis its nickname. The Osage Nation owns the site, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an archaeological site.

History of Sugarloaf Mound

The mound builders were part of a Native American culture that flourished in this region from about A.D. 600 to 1300. They raised dozens of earthen mounds where the city now stands. As St. Louis grew, the others disappeared, leaving Sugarloaf as the single remaining one and the oldest human-made landmark in the city.

Visiting Sugarloaf Mound: tips

Treat the mound with the respect due to a place of deep meaning to Native people. View it from the street, stay off the earthwork, and keep the visit short. Parking is on hand, but the site reports it is not wheelchair accessible.

Seiwa-en, the Japanese garden, is about 2.9 miles away, inside the Missouri Botanical Garden, which is about 3.1 miles off.

Practical info

Address: 4420 Ohio Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Sugarloaf Mound

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Ted Drewes
St. Louis, MO · 4.3 mi from Sugarloaf Mound
A family-run St. Louis frozen custard stand from 1929, known for concretes served upside down.
Diner & restaurant
Crown Candy Kitchen
St. Louis, MO · 5.6 mi from Sugarloaf Mound
An old-fashioned soda fountain and candy shop in Old North St. Louis, known for handmade malts.