7 Day Mounds Tours
June 3rd-9th, 2012
Sept 2nd-8th, 2012
$999
per person double occupancy
Day 1 – Arrive at the Columbus, Ohio airport
Day 2 – HOPEWELL MOUNDS
After breakfast you’ll board our luxurious motor coach and wind your way south to the the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum in Coshocton, Ohio, this museum houses the famous “Holy Stones”, found in a Hopewell mound near Newark, Ohio. These stones, inscribed with ancient Hebrew writings, demonstrate a North American connection to the Old World. As we continue toward Newark, you’ll discover that this area is filled with the most extensive and monumental earthworks in the world, including the Great Circle and Great Octagon, built by the Hopewell Civilization. They date between 150 AD and 250 AD, during the peaceful time following Christ’s visit. Scientists have recently discovered embedded astronomical alignments proving this was a highly advanced civilization. You’ll have a chance to ascend the 30 foot embankments and walk the ‘place of entrance’ of the Great Circle. You’ll learn more as we discuss the ancient Hopewell Mound Builder civilization that inhabited this area during Book of Mormon times. We’ll spend the night near Newark, Ohio. (B)
Day 3 – Friday HOPEWELL MUSEUM – MOUND CITY – SEIP MOUND – FORT HILL – Serpent Mound
After breakfast, our first stop will be the Hopewell Museum at Mound City in Chillicothe, Ohio. This restored Hopewell site features displays of artifacts of copper, silver, and stone that may have been made by Book of Mormon people. You’ll continue through the Ohio River Valley, visiting ancient archaeological sites including Seip Mound, and Fort Hill, a Hopewell hilltop fortress with its ancient stones walls still visible. You’ll see the world famous Serpent Mound with its mysterious coils forming astronomical alignments. You’ll overnight in mid-Ohio.
(B) (L)
Day 4 - FORT ANCIENT - MIAMISBURG ADENA CULTURE MOUND Today we journey to Fort Ancient, another hilltop fortress with miles of embankments and trenches before exploring the Miamisburg Adena Culture Mound. Then we'll have some quality discussion time about this ancient civilization that has over 25 correlations to the Book of Mormon, as we continue on toward Decatur, IN where we will spend the night. (B)
Day 5 - ZELPH'S MOUND - ZARAHEMLA - DICKSON MOUNDS After breakfast you'll continue your journey, "roving over the plains of the Nephites" as the Prophet Joseph wrote to his sweetheart Emma while on Zion's Camp march in 1835. Our first stop, Zelph's Mound, is perched high upon a bluff above the Illinois River. A short climb takes you to the site where Joseph Smith had a vision of a righteous Lamanite warrior named Zelph, who was buried in this mound after dying in the final struggle between the Nephites and Lamanites. Then you'll cross the Mississippi River to Montrose, near the place the Prophet Joseph said was the site of Zarahemla, as indicated by the Lord in D&C 125:3. Now visiting the great Dickson Mounds. Ending the day with Nauvoo, majestic Temple, high on a bluff, symbolically facing the west. You will have time to attend a Temple session, that evening if you wish.(B,)
Day 6 - CAHOKIA - STONE FORT Today we'll discover the largest city in North America before European settlement, Cahokia, just outside of St. Louis. The museum is world class but the magnitude of Monks Mound, the largest earthen temple mound structure in North America is awe inspiring. From there we'll ride to Stone Fort, an ancient fortified hilltop with stone walls perched atop a bluff. We will be staying the night in Marion near Stone Fort. (B,)
Day 7- BIG SPRINGS Today we'll drive to see one of the wonders of North America, Big Springs, the proposed "Waters of Mormon" based on location, distance and description. Then drive back to St. Louis airport to catch your flight home. (B)
