Did you know that Iowa is home to just one National Park Service area? This incredible Native American burial mound is one of the most sacred sites in the Midwest, and you can visit to learn about the history of Iowa long before European settlers made this their home.

Effigy Mounds National Monument is the only National Park in Iowa, and you've got to put it on your bucket list.

This sacred Native American burial ground is getting on track after years of mismanagement by local superintendents, and now is one of the best times to visit this historical treasure.

There are more than 200 burial mounds at the monument, and more are discovered every year.

Many of these Native American Burial Mounds are shaped like animals: there are bear mounds, bird mounds, and more. Many of the trails take you close to the mounds, but for the sake of preservation, leave no trace of your visit and stick to marked trails.

The burial mounds were built by people of the Woodland culture during the first millenium.

Associated tribes include the Iowa Tribes of Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, the Upper Sioux Community of Minnesota, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community In the State of Minnesota, the Lower Sioux Indian Community of Mdewakanton, the Sioux Indians of Minnesota, the Prairie Island Indian Community In the State of Minnesota, the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, the Crow Creek Sioux of South Dakota, the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Santee Sioux of Nebraska, the Standing Rock and Yankton Sioux of North Dakota, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe

and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.

The Fire Point Trail is one of the most heavily trafficked at the monument, but on a crisp winter day, you may have it to yourself.

There's no better way to visit this historical monument than to take a stroll in peace and quiet. You'll feel at one with the earth as you explore each trail that leads to an overlook.

The view from the top of each trail is breathtaking.

Enjoy sprawling panoramic views of the Mississippi River, and you'll understand why this was chosen as a sacred site. You'll want to make time to visit this sacred site this year, and truly appreciate the history of the Hawkeye State.

Effigy Mounds National Monument is located at 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146, and you can find more information about the history and visiting hours of the park on the National Park Service Website.

For more interesting information about experiencing Iowa's history, read These 10 Iowa Hiking Trails Lead To Some Incredible Pieces Of History.