Calendar 2013
The Friends of Aztalan State Park is committed to raise money for construction of a permanent visitor center. Funds were used to purchase and operate the small, temporary visitor center trailer now at the park.
June 21st 2013, 6:00pm: Annual summer solstice sunset celebration. The sun was an important deity in beliefs of the ancient Mississippian people who lived here between 1050 and 1200 A.D. The summer solstice was certainly observed with great ceremony. Light food and beverages will be provided by the Friends of Aztalan for attendees. This year’s program features a tour of site archaeological excavations conducted at Aztalan by Dr. Lynne Goldstein of Michigan State University as a joint project by MSU, the University of Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa University. The summer solstice sunset will be viewed from the ancient platforms mounds of the Aztalan people. The event is free but a state park vehicle sticker is required. These can be purchased at the park during the event. For more information contact Bob Birmingham 608-516-3421 or birmi@sbcglobal.net.
Park photos by Dan Seurer: SLIDE SHOW
Aztalan State Park is 2 miles off I-94 at Lake Mills, 1 hour from Milwaukee or Madison. Slide show photos by Dan Seuer. Check out his website http://seurer-photography.com
Group tours can be arranged for adults and schools. Call Bob Birmingham at (608) 241-4958 or email birmi@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Tours every Sunday at 2:00, May - Sept: Free guided tours, weather permitting. Wisconsin State Park sticker required.
Historical Summary
Aztalan State Park is the site of a ceremonial and residential Native American town established in 1100 AD (approximately). This site has provided insights into ancient agriculture and gardening.
While people lived along the Crawfish River in Wisconsin's Jefferson County before 900 A.D., the Mississippians arrived at ancient Aztalan between 1050 and 1100AD. They established a heirarchal society that was culturally exotic for the area.
The Mississippian people built earthen pyramids used by the religious and ruling leaders. The largest Mississippian site is Cahokia, located near St. Louis. Aztalan is the most northern outpost.
The Aztalan people built three earthern pyramids and a protective stockade complete with guard towers. Two of the pyramids and sections of the stockade are reconstructed.
In 1837 Nathaniel Hyer mapped the site and, believing that it was built by people from the ancient Mexican city of Aztalan, named the Wisconsin site Aztalan. Though it is now known that the inhabitants were not from Mexico the name of the site was not changed.
The Book by Bob Birmingham, Executive Manager of Friends of Aztalan, former Wisconsin state archeologist and Lynne Goldstein of Michigan State University.
See the video, purchased by the Friends of Aztalan to raise awareness of the historical uniqueness of Aztalan, and funds for an on-site visitor's interpretive center.
The charter of the Friends of Aztalan is to raise money to augment the state's budget for an Aztalan State Park Interpretive Center. In the spring of 2012 Friends of Aztalan State Park purchased the large office trailer which was used last year as an interim interpretive center. It provides information and books about the site and related places of interest in the region.
Site designed/developed by Marifrances A Cataldi
June-2013
This website was developed and is maintained by the Friends of Aztalan State Park. We invite you to learn about the Mississippian culture from the information presented here and the links to other Mississippian sites that we found of interest.
Friends of Aztalan State Park
P.O Box 855
Lake Mills, WI 53551
