Cahokia AR Tour for iPhone

Quick summary

Step into the past with an iPhone app that brings Cahokia’s vanished metropolis back to life. Built for visitors to the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, this augmented reality guide overlays reconstructions and interpretive content onto the landscape so you can experience what the Mississippian city might have looked like a thousand years ago.

What the app does

• Projects digital reconstructions of ceremonial buildings and living spaces directly onto the site.
• Reveals curated artifacts and explanatory material tied to specific locations.
• Provides narrated background and cultural context about the ancient Mississippian people.
• Uses modern AR technology to layer history onto the present-day mounds.

Highlights you’ll encounter

• Millennial-old architecture recreated in situ to show scale and layout.
• Detailed views of objects recovered from Cahokia, accompanied by interpretation.
• Story-driven commentary that explains beliefs, daily life, and social structure.
• An on-site, immersive experience designed to deepen understanding of the site.

Important usage notes

This application is intended solely for use at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The AR features and location-based functions depend on being at the site and will not work correctly elsewhere. If you plan to tour the mounds, download the app beforehand so it’s ready when you arrive.

Getting started

• Install the app on an iPhone before your visit.
• Arrive at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site with sufficient battery and data settings configured.
• Open the app while on-site and follow the prompts to view reconstructions and interpretive content.