One of the most significant archaeological sites in the St. Louis area is Sugar Loaf Mound (23SL9); it
situated on a second terrace above the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis.
It is the only mound in the downtown area that escaped destruction during the 19th century. The site was purchased from a private landowner by the
Osage Nation during August of 2009. The mound can be seen from the North-bound lanes of Interstate - 55, but it is not easily reached and is
not open to the public at this time.
View of the mound looking towards the northeast. An article calling for the preservation of the Sugar Loaf Mound appeared in the March 30, 1932 issue of the Globe-Democrat;
the article described the mound as conical in shape and 40 feet (12.2 meters) in height.
Part of the south apron of the mound was cut away between 1932 and 1940 by the Hoffman Quarry;
an article (3 October 1940) concerning the mound was published by the Post-Dispatch and shows the damage.
1820 plat prepared by J. C. Brown showing Sugar Loaf Mound and noting that "Sugar Loaf or Mound is 268 feet from the Mississippi River." The map was scanned and enhanced from the National Register nomination form prepared by Wiegers in 1981.
Thanks to Dr. Leonard Blake, Dr. Robert P. Wiegers and Neathery B. Fuller who discussed Sugar Loaf Mound with me during the 1980s. Many thanks to Kathy Waltz from the office of Congressman
Russ Carnahan for the invitation to attend
the Osage blessing ceremony in August of 2009. Special thanks to Chief James Roan Gray and Elder Charles H. Red Corn (Tzishuwashtahgi/Peace clan) for taking time to talk with me ahead of the
blessing ceremony. Many smiles to Ettus Hiatt for proofreading my webpages.
Webpage constructed 14 August 2009