Stop 16 – Heim Effigy Mound

Historic Landmark Trail Stop 16:

The Heim Effigy Mound, which is thought to represent a fox or a wolf, is one of many mounds that once existed in the Four Lakes area.  It was constructed about 750 to 1000 AD. This location was chosen for its proximity to Lake Mendota, which had spiritual importance for the mound builders.  In 1937, Frederick Heim donated the mound to the Wisconsin Archaeological Society making it the first mound to be legally preserved in Wisconsin.  In 2004, the Heim Mound was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Read more about the site from the Wisconsin Mounds or learn about Heim’s discovery from the Wisconsin Archeological Society.

Status: Heim Effigy Mound is open to the public but is situated in a residential neighborhood. While visitors can access the mound at any time, it is surrounded by private residences. Mound Drive is a dead end, so visitors must park on Gateway Street and walk to the site. Upon entering Mound Drive, the mound is located between the second and third houses on the right-hand side and can be identified by a historic landmark marker.

Click here for Middleton Historic Landmark Trail stop 17: Ehrman Lustron House

Photo from the Wisconsin Historical Society.