Grave Creek Mound

Largest Adena Culture Burial Mound in North America — National Historic Landmark, Built Between 250 and 150 BC, 62 Feet Tall and 240 Feet in Diameter, Delf Norona Museum With Adena Culture Artifacts and Archaeological Exhibits, Walkway to the Top of the Mound, Archaeological Research Center, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Near Moundsville Marshall County Northern West Virginia Panhandle

Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex (formerly Grave Creek Mound State Park) is a state-managed archaeological site in Moundsville, Marshall County, in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, managed by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. The complex features the largest conical burial mound built by the Adena culture in North America — standing 62 feet tall and 240 feet in diameter, constructed between approximately 250 and 150 BC, designated as a National Historic Landmark, the Delf Norona Museum (opened 1978) housing Adena culture artifacts, pottery, tools, and archaeological exhibits, a walkway to the summit of the mound offering views of the Ohio River valley, an archaeological research center managing West Virginia’s archaeological record, listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and interpretive displays explaining the Adena culture’s burial practices and sophisticated earthwork engineering.

The sheer scale of Grave Creek Mound is staggering — when it was built over 2,000 years ago, the Adena people moved an estimated 60,000 tons of earth by hand to create a monument taller than a six-story building. It remains the largest conical burial mound of its type in the Western Hemisphere.

The mound survived because early settlers in Moundsville (which was literally named after it) recognized its significance. It was first excavated in 1838, yielding skeletal remains, copper bracelets, shell beads, and the controversial Grave Creek Stone inscribed with unknown characters.

What to See

• The Mound — 62 ft tall, 240 ft diameter
• Delf Norona Museum — Adena artifacts
• Summit walkway — Ohio River valley views
• Research center — WV archaeology
• Interpretive exhibits — burial practices

Site Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Wildlife & Nature

Grave Creek Mound — one of the largest conical burial mounds in North America — standing 62 feet high and 240 feet in diameter. Built by the Adena culture approximately 250-150 BC. The site’s grounds and mound support songbirds, squirrels, and white-tailed deer.

Nearby Attractions

Moundsville — adjacent — also home to the former West Virginia Penitentiary (a haunted tourism icon). Ohio River — nearby.

Last updated: May 2026