grave creek mound archaeological complex

This is a good, FREE thing to check out in Moundsville. We took the prison tour and walked across the street afterwards to check out the burial mound. The displays are a little dated looking, I'm sure they haven't been updated since the complex was first built, but it is still very interesting. In addition to the historic displays there are several displays about local business and arts, like Fiesta Ware, Marble King, etc. There are lots of period dolls that are handmade by a local artisan as well. If you are going to be in the area it is worth a stop!

The day we went was cold and icy so you could not walk to the top of the mound but the museum made up for it. The museum is free and includes educational and historic information. We really like seeing a display showing some of the things they found in the mound. It is well worth taking a look if you are in the area.

The attraction is free and therefore worth a look while you are there. I wish there was more information and pictures about the actual findings inside this particular mound. There was a nice fashion doll exhibit while we were there. The mound itself is quite beautiful and eerie.

I would have liked to see the inside of the mound but they said it was too dangerous.They had some artifacts in the museum and a description of the mound and what they found inside. There were also some other exhibits about the town.

The Grave Creek Mound is across the street from the WV Penitentiary, and well worth adding to your visit. The visitor's center is very informative and includes educational and historic information... not just about archeology and the native Americans, but also other local history. While we were there, they had a display on Marble King marbles (which have been made in Paden City for decades) and Ron Hinkle, a premiere glass-blower artist in the State. There is also a huge display of chinaware from the Homer McLaughlin Factory (Fiesta Ware).Admission is free and they have multiple displays about the mound and the Native Americans, and there are children's activities. There is a walkway to the top of the mound, and it offers a nice view of the area from the top. The walkway is steep and not handicap friendly, so I would recommend the trip to the top only for those in good health.

Was a beautiful sight. Climbing was hard, but well worth it. Gift shop was quaint. Staff friendly...

You must enter this park through the museum that is nearby. Once you complete the short hike to the top of this mound, you can take in the wonderful views of Moundsville and beyond. The museum is extremely dated, straight out of the 70s in fact, but worth a look. It showcases some of the history of the mounds as well as some of the various companies that have roots in the area.

Having visited many of these Mounds I have plenty to compare and this one is only okay in my opinion. The museum was fairly informative and the walk up the mound not too strenuous with good views.

The first settlers in the Moundsville area were the Indians native to the area. They built Grave Creek Mound using primitive tools and raw man-power. The complex includes a museum with an area of changing displays and another area which is permanent.In the permanent section you can learn about the mound including how and why it was built. Dioramas help to illustrate its construction. Old maps help to provide a greater understanding of the development of the area.Then a trip outside to climb to the top of the mound is the culmination of the trip to the mound. It will take a bit of effort to get to the top but it is certainly worth it, as the view provides a great panoramic view of the city of Moundsville, the Ohio River, and the shore of Ohio. A fee used to be charged but was removed by the State legislature a few years ago.

We found this very interesting with lots of information about the Indian burial mounds. It was also a bonus to see the other exhibits in the museum--Pete Ballard dolls, Homer Laughlin China company, Ron Hinkle glass, and Marble King. All of this is free.

Not very exciting, there is a museum with some neat exhibits. Kids went through it quickly. Now I know where the name "Moundsville" came from. Worth a walk across the street if you happen to be at the Penn.View from the top of the burial mound was nice.

This mound is literally right across the street from the prison, so you might as well take a look. No visitors were allowed actually on the mound when we were there, so we didn't go inside. Unless you are a huge history buff, it is pretty boring.

Kind of interesting, views from the top of the mound were great. Would visit again if given the opportunity.

We decided to hit the mound today over our lunch break so it was a quick visit. The hike up isn't bad but if you do it too quickly you may end up with a little vertigo. The view from the top is quite pretty. I figured this was built around 1200-1500 but was amazed to find out it was built around 200 BC. The museum is nice, but like I said, we didn't have much time. They not only teach you the history of the mound but they also have displays on the Homer Laughlin Company (Fiesta Ware and dishes), period clothing, glad blowing and the Marble King marble company. We loved the glass exhibit with blown glass flowers.

We visited the museum and mound after taking a tour of the Prison right across the street. The museum is literally within walking distance so we didn't have to even move the car. The museum is free and has a small gift shop and restrooms right near the entrance. Unfortunately, we didn't find the museum to be that interesting and if you have small children you might have trouble keeping them entertained. Maybe it would be better when there are more activities going on. A very large display on the first floor consisted of dolls in different period clothing. I did think that the big marble display on the wall was really neat. Upstairs, there was detailed information about the mound and its history. We looked through this before heading out to walk up the mound. The walk up to the mound was cool and we got some neat pictures once at the top. Wear some good walking shoes because the steps are a little steep. One thing I did notice was that the top had not been mowed or taken care of in a while. The grass was rather long and there were lots of big black bugs that were coming out when you walked. In my opinion, I would not travel a long distance to visit, but for someone who enjoys this then this museum might be exactly what you're looking for. It's free so you have nothing to lose but some time. If you are visiting the Prison across the street and have some extra time, I'd stop for a bit and at least walk up the mound.