travel destinations usa: The USA surprisingly hides ancient ruins comparable to world wonders

When it comes to ancient civilization sites, do you first think of Egypt’s pyramids or China’s terracotta warriors? Few people associate the United States with “ancient civilizations”—after all, most of its urban buildings are less than 200 years old. But once you step out of the bustling cities, you’ll discover that this land holds too many surprises: thousand-year-old fishing villages along Hawaii’s shores, massive stone architectural complexes in the New Mexico desert, “sky palaces” on Colorado’s cliffs, and even 21,000-year-old human footprint fossils! Each of these sites can rival world wonders, silently telling the forgotten ancient stories of the North American continent. Today, let’s explore America’s “hidden history” and discover these stunning ancient sites.

Ancient Remains

Some countries are world-renowned for their rich archaeological discoveries and ancient civilization relics.

The United States is not usually on this list, but perhaps it should be.

Although most urban architecture in the United States was built after the 19th century, as long as you deviate from the conventional routes, you can find murals, rock carvings, and well-preserved pre-Columbian settlement sites—every state in the United States hides ‘secret windows’ to the past.

Next, let’s unveil the mystery of the most amazing archaeological sites in the United States…

Waimea, Hawaii, Lapakahi State Historical Park

Few archaeological sites boast a more scenic setting than Lapakahi State Historical Park on the North Kohala coast of the Island of Hawaii.

This ancient fishing settlement is backed by palm trees, faces sparkling blue waters, and is bordered by a charming beach dotted with black and white pebbles.

The blue sea, sandy beach, and ancient ruins create a picturesque scene, like a natural historical painting.

Waimea, Hawaii, Lapakahi State Historical Park

Visitors can explore along multiple trails, where informational signs along the way introduce the significance of structures such as canoe storage houses, religious sites, and ancient burial grounds.

Some of the ruins have been restored, allowing people to clearly glimpse the fishing lifestyle of the Koaiʻe tribe who lived here in the 14th century.

Wandering through them, it feels as if you can travel through time and see the daily scenes of ancient people fishing and performing religious ceremonies.

New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park

The Pueblo people built a complex of buildings in the heart of the New Mexico desert that could be called a “major trading center”.

The Chaco Culture site consists of a series of massive stone buildings, built around 850 AD.

Despite the arid climate and long winters here, it is believed that this complex was long used as a ceremonial and administrative center, the core of the regional civilization at that time.

The magnificent ruins rising in the desolate desert make one marvel at the adaptability and architectural wisdom of the ancient people.️

New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park

The park is located approximately 241 kilometers (converted from the original text “150 miles”) northwest of Albuquerque and can only be reached via dirt roads.

Visitors can join ranger-led tours to get a close-up view of the stunning multi-story “great house” ruins while learning about the religious significance of the surrounding mountains and mesas.

This is also a designated “International Dark Sky Park,” making it an excellent spot for stargazing at night—where ancient civilization meets the brilliant starry sky.✨

White Sands National Park, Fossil Footprints, New Mexico

The magnificent and charming White Sands National Park contains numerous fossils and fossil footprints, including those of mammoths and saber-toothed tigers dating back 30,000 years.

At the end of 2020, archaeologists made perhaps the most exciting discovery: they excavated a set of human fossil footprints on the shore of the ancient Lake Otero (now dried up).

These footprints are like “time stamps,” recording traces of ancient human activities on this land.

White Sands National Park, New Mexico, Fossil Footprints

Research on these fossil footprints (as shown in the image) reveals that they are 21,000 to 23,000 years old – which means that humans were active here long before the park’s iconic gypsum sand dunes formed.

These are also the oldest known human footprints in North America, with the track extending approximately 1.6 kilometers (converted from the original text ‘a mile’), making it the longest fossilized human footprint track discovered to date.

Most of the footprints belong to children and teenagers, including a toddler under 3 years old; other animal footprints indicate that these humans crossed paths with mammoths and giant ground sloths.

Small footprints restore the wonderful scene of ancient humans coexisting with prehistoric animals.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, Cliff Palace

Viewed from a distance, the Cliff Palace looks like a vast and exquisite sandcastle city.

This ancestral Puebloan site is hidden in the cliff alcoves of Mesa Verde National Park and is believed to have been built between 1190 and 1260 AD.

It is also the largest known cliff dwelling in North America, showcasing the extraordinary architectural skills of ancient people among the steep cliffs.

From a distance, the architectural complex in the cave appears layered upon layers, resembling an “air castle” embedded in the rock wall.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, Cliff Palace

This palace has 150 rooms and multiple “kivas” (spaces used by Pueblo people for religious ceremonies and gatherings), all carved from sandstone and reinforced with wooden beams and plaster.

The ruins are exceptionally well-preserved. To protect them, tours must be led by park rangers and involve climbing ladders and steps.

Touching the thousand-year-old stone walls with your own hands, you can almost feel the presence of ancient people living and worshiping here.

Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville, Illinois

The Cahokia site covers approximately 15.5 square kilometers (converted from the original text “six square miles”), with an estimated population between 10,000 and 20,000 people. It was once larger than London in 1250 AD—at that time, this earliest known city in North America was in its golden age.

Scattered across this land are more than 100 mounds, whose origins remain shrouded in mystery to this day.

Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville, Illinois

The site is located a few miles from Collinsville, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Visitors can learn about what is known about the site through the interpretive center and exhibition halls.

It is believed that people settled here as early as 600 AD; around 1100 AD, the Cahokians built a series of “Woodhenges” – calendar devices made of red cedar posts that would align with the sunrise on specific days of the year.

These mounds and Woodhenges bear witness to the splendor of early urban civilization in North America.

River House Ruins, Bluff, Utah

To reach the River House Ruins, you need a four-wheel drive vehicle or a pair of strong legs—this sandstone cliff dwelling was built by the ancestral Puebloan people between 900 AD and the late 13th century.

The nearest town is Bluff, about 19.3 kilometers (originally “12 miles”) away. From the highway, you need to hike 5 miles (about 8 kilometers) along a trail filled with deep sand and rocks to reach it.

However, this arduous journey is absolutely worth it—the desert scenery along the way and the final view of the ruins will bring a strong visual and spiritual impact.

Bluff, Utah, River House Ruins

This early desert dwelling consists of a series of well-preserved rooms, some of which are two-story structures, hidden beneath the apricot-colored cliffs.

A 1-mile (approximately 1.6 kilometers) long trail extends along the base of the structures, where visitors can see hundreds of rock carvings (petroglyphs), including the figure of ‘Kokopelli’—a deity symbolizing fertility and a trickster, typically depicted holding a flute and wearing a feathered headdress.

The patterns in the petroglyphs are a ‘silent language’ through which ancient people conveyed their beliefs and way of life.

Bluff, Utah, Sand Island Rock Art Panel

About a 30-minute drive from the River House Ruin, within the Bears Ears National Monument, you can also find one of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan murals—the Sand Island Rock Art Panel.

This rock art panel is 91.4 meters long (converted from the original text “300 feet”), and the rock art on it spans over 2,500 years of history.

Among them are not only the Kokopelli deity symbolizing fertility and the patterns of bighorn sheep playing flutes, but also more recent and clearer carvings by the Ute and Navajo peoples, with artistic styles from different periods blending together here.

A single petroglyph is a condensed history of ancient art.

Peebles, Ohio, Serpent Mound Historical Site

The Serpent Mound Historical Site in Peebles is located approximately 112.7 kilometers (converted from the original text “70 miles”) east of Cincinnati.

Fortunately, there are no real snakes slithering beneath the grass—this is actually the world’s largest serpent-shaped mound, which winds across the plateau in the form of a snake and is known as the “Great Serpent Mound.”

The mound stretches more than 396 meters (converted from the original text “1,300 feet”), reaches a width of up to 7.6 meters (converted from the original text “25 feet”), and rises from the grass-covered ridge with a maximum height of approximately 1.5 meters (converted from the original text “five feet”).

The purpose and symbolic meaning of such a massive serpent-shaped mound remain a mystery in the archaeological world to this day.

Peebles, Ohio, Serpent Mound Historical Site

This aerial photograph provides a glimpse of the Serpent Mound and the enormous scale of the entire site.

It is believed to have been built by Native Americans in Ohio, but archaeologists cannot determine which specific cultural group it belongs to, nor can they precisely date it—the estimated time span is vast, ranging from 321 BC to 1070 AD.

Near the site, there are also three burial mounds: two built by the Adena culture from 800 BC to 100 AD, and another built by the Fort Ancient culture from 1000 to 1650 AD.

Mounds from different cultures coexist here, telling the story of thousands of years of human activity on this land.

Camp Verde, Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument

Few archaeological sites have a more stunning location than Montezuma Castle—it resembles a ‘high-rise apartment’ nestled in the limestone cliffs of the Camp Verde desert.

This castle was built and inhabited by the Sinagua people, who are believed to have lived here between 1100 and 1425 AD. It was once a dwelling with 20 rooms.

Carving rooms on steep cliffs, the courage and wisdom of the ancients are admirable.

Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, Arizona

In 1906, it became one of the first four sites in the United States to receive the designation of “National Monument”.

For decades, visitors could enter the interior of the castle through ladders along the cliff; today, to prevent further damage to the ruins, people can only view it from the ground below.

The site also includes other dwellings around Montezuma Well (as shown in the picture), about 9.7 kilometers (converted from the original text “six miles”) from the castle—some of these dwellings are over 1,000 years old.

From the “castle” to the “well,” the complete settlement layout of ancient people is restored.

Moundville, Alabama, Moundville Archaeological Park

National Geographic once described Moundville as “the New York (the Big Apple) of the 14th century.”

These 29 flat-topped mounds were built by indigenous Mississippians about 800 years ago. Although their height cannot compare with modern New York skyscrapers, these mounds prove that a complex and advanced civilization once existed here.

The “city” constructed with mounds showcases the unique urban planning concepts of North American indigenous peoples.️

Moundville, Moundville Archaeological Park, Alabama

Today, this archaeological park is located on the banks of the Black Warrior River near Tuscaloosa, protecting 326 acres (approximately 131.9 hectares) of land.

Visitors can explore the mound groups along the nature trails – these mounds once had residences and ceremonial buildings for local nobility on their tops.

The park also holds annual festivals to celebrate this site and Native American culture, allowing the ancient civilization to continue in a vibrant way.

Fort Apache, Arizona, Kinishba Ruins

The vast Kinishba Ruins consist of 9 stone buildings, which once had 500 rooms and could accommodate 1,000 people.

This Pueblo village was built by the pre-Columbian Mogollon people between 1250 and 1350 AD, but was abandoned for unknown reasons at the end of the 14th century.

The site is located on the land of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, in a lush green valley. Visitors must first register at the Nohwike’ Bagowa Museum before visiting.

The ruins of the stone buildings silently tell the story of the civilization once created by the Mogollon people here.

Poverty Point State Historic Site, Pioneer, Louisiana

The mounds at Poverty Point far surpass most similar sites in both scale and age.

The oldest of these, the “Lower Jackson Mound,” has been determined to have been built around 3900 BCE.

These mounds and concentric semicircular structures were all built by hand with human labor alone—without the aid of domesticated animals or the invention of the wheel, relying entirely on human effort.

In the ancient period with simple tools, the ability to build such a vast complex of mounds is stunning, demonstrating the organizational capability and perseverance of the ancient people.⛏️

Poverty Point State Historic Site, Pioneer, Louisiana

The exact purpose of the site has not yet been determined, but ongoing archaeological research suggests it may have been both a residential area and a trading center.

More mysteriously, Poverty Point was abandoned around 1100 BCE, until around 700 CE when another group of people migrated here and added another mound to the landscape.

The gap and continuation between these two periods of human activity add more unsolved mysteries to the site.❓

Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Lovell, Wyoming

Stone circle sites are often shrouded in mystery, and the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in the Bighorn National Forest of northern Wyoming adds another layer of mystery—it is covered by snow in winter.

After the snow melts in summer, the limestone rocks reveal themselves in the shape of a “wheel,” with spokes embedded in a large circle, forming a unique geometric structure.

On the open mountaintop, this stone “wheel” seems to connect with heaven and earth, filled with a sense of sacredness.

Bighorn Medicine Wheel Site, Lovell, Wyoming

Experts have determined that this hilltop site dates back to at least 1300 AD, and it is part of a chain of Native American archaeological sites, some of which have a history of up to 7,000 years.

It is believed that this stone circle structure was once used to predict astronomical phenomena such as the summer solstice, but the truth remains a mystery to this day.

The Medicine Wheel is protected by a fence, which is adorned with dreamcatchers and prayer cloths, carrying modern people’s respect for ancient beliefs.

Chillicothe, Ohio, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

The Hopewell people consisted of multiple Native American groups who gathered in the grassy mounds and enclosures of this national historical park to hold various ceremonies ranging from feasts to funerals.

These mounds were built about 2,000 years ago, with some structures reaching widths of up to 304.8 meters (converted from the original text “1,000 feet”), and are now preserved at 6 different locations within the park.

The mound complex was not only a ceremonial site but also the core carrier of Hopewell culture and spirituality.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Chillicothe, Ohio

Visitors can explore the mound group along the self-guided trail; in summer, they can also join ranger-led tours to gain a deeper understanding of archaeological knowledge.

The visitor center houses a museum displaying artifacts excavated from 20th-century archaeological digs, including tools used by Hopewell craftsmen.

The Hopewell people had an extensive trade network that stretched from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains, allowing them to collect a diverse range of materials from copper to shark teeth.

These artifacts and traces of the trade network restore the prosperous scene of Hopewell culture.

Judaculla Rock, Cullowhee, North Carolina

This massive soapstone boulder was once a sacred site for the Cherokee people, who believed that an ancient giant beast named “Judaculla” landed here when leaping between two mountains.

The rock is carved with stick figures, claw marks, and winged designs, which archaeologists have dated to between 2000 BCE and 200 BCE.

These mysterious petroglyphs are both a vessel for Cherokee mythology and a precious remnant of ancient art.

Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Evidence suggests that humans have inhabited this area for more than 11,000 years—a land dotted with canyons and cliffs, while the remarkable structures in Bandelier National Monument were built by ancestral Pueblo people around 1150 CE.

This site in Los Alamos preserves stone walls, petroglyphs, and architectural remains carved directly into the steep cliff faces.

Carving homes in such a rugged natural environment demonstrates the remarkable survival wisdom of ancient people.

Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, New Mexico

A series of ladders and stone steps lead to the “Cliff Dwelling” – this steep cliff-top site was once home to approximately 24 ancestral Pueblo people.

The park features multiple hiking trails that wind through forests, connecting different village ruins; the visitor center also displays exhibits of pottery and tools used by the inhabitants.

Hiking between the sites, one can almost follow in the footsteps of the ancient people and experience their daily lives.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mounds A and B

These two mounds may seem unremarkable, but beneath them lie what could be the oldest known man-made architectural remains in North America.

In 2022, carbon-14 analysis revealed that Mound B was initially built over 11,000 years ago; while Mound A was being completed (about 6,000 years ago), Mound B was reconstructed.

Sediment core samples indicate that the site was used for ceremonial purposes, and these two mounds, aligned with celestial bodies, have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The “astronomical ceremonial mounds” from over 10,000 years ago have rewritten people’s understanding of the level of early human civilization in North America.

Avella, Pennsylvania, Meadowcroft Rockshelter

Humans have intermittently inhabited the Meadowcroft Rockshelter for as long as 19,000 years, making it undoubtedly one of the oldest sites of human habitation in the Americas.

The shelter is well-ventilated, spacious, situated on high ground to avoid flooding, and located along Cross Creek—an archaeologist involved in the excavation described it as “a holiday inn from the late Pleistocene epoch.”

Today, this National Historic Landmark not only offers tours but also features several interpretive villages that vividly recreate scenes from ancient life.

19,000 years of human habitation history have made this place a “living fossil” for studying North American prehistoric human life.️