The United States is celebrating 250 years of nationhood, but its history stretches back much further. From colonial times to the pre-Columbian era, the land that became the US is home to numerous remarkable sites that predate the founding of the nation.

Ancient Earthen Mounds

In what is now Iowa, Native peoples constructed elaborate earthen mounds along the Mississippi River over 2,500 years ago. The Effigy Mounds are associated with about 20 Native American tribes and served ceremonial, spiritual, and burial functions.

In Ohio, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park preserves dozens of large burial and ceremonial mounds. The mounds are scattered across five different sites and are executed with great precision, aligning with sun and moon cycles.

Historic Temples and Settlements

The Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico is one of the nation’s oldest continuously occupied sites. The two multi-story historic structures, Hlauuma and Hlaukwima, are still occupied by around 75 of the village’s 1,400 residents.

In Illinois, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site was once a thriving urban area and trade center with a population that may have rivaled many of the largest cities of Europe at its peak around 1250.

Other Historic Sites

Other notable sites include the White Horse Tavern in Rhode Island, one of the nation’s oldest operating restaurants, and the Colonial Inn in Massachusetts, which played a role in the American Revolution.

These sites, along with many others, showcase the rich and diverse history of the United States, from ancient Native American cultures to colonial settlements and historic landmarks.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.