This is a must see if you are in this area. You can actually hike to the top of the burial mound. The museum had a lot of exhibits on local history, such as Marx toys. read more

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In the appropriately named city of Moundsville, you'll find -- you'll never guess -- a great-big mound. But Grave Creek Mound is more than just a mound! It's a sacred religious site of the Adena people, and it was built around 150 B.C. The mound is a burial ground for members of the Adena tribe, and was created over a period of a hundred years or so. You can climb up the mound via steps that wrap around it. It takes a couple of minutes. When you get to the top, the view is pretty cool: You can see downtown Moundsville and the West Virginia Penitentiary, which looks hardcore and gothic, but is out of commission and is now just a museum. I took some time to stand on the mound, breathing the West Virginia air that was blowing around me, and thought about the dead people I was standing on. Just bodies, bodies, bodies all the way down. Probably, most definitely, not even bodies anymore -- they've just transitioned their way back into the earth. It's a sobering place to visit. Anywhooo! There's a museum that you can visit, too (open Tuesdays through Saturdays), which is free to explore. Inside, you can learn about Grave Creek Mound and the people who created it. There are also archeological exhibits with fossils on display, as well as exhibits about local items made in West Virginia, like Marble King marbles and Marx toys, which at one point was the largest toy-making facility in the world. This is a fun and educational place to visit if you're in this part of West Virginia. read more

Stopped here for a quick visit on a Sunday afternoon in mid-June 2025. Although the museum and gift shop were closed, it's still quite an impressive feature of Moundsville. If you read a bit about the history of the Adena people who lived here and created many sacred mounds (which have mostly disappeared in the region due to commercial and real estate developers), it gives you greater appreciation of the native Americans who valued this sacred site on the Ohio River and the family and citizens of Moundsville who pushed back to say "No" to real estate developers who wanted to bulldoze this historical mound. I hope the Grave Creek Mound foundation can unite forces and share archaeological items with the state of Ohio which was received a Feb. 2025 Unesco World Heritage recognition for the Hopewell Culture sights and mounds in the state of Ohio. These sacred mounds are similar to royal tombs in South Korea and Japan - which have a shared historical legacy of shamanism (which native Americans likely brought with them during the Ice Age migrations across the Bering Strait fro to Alaska to North America). read more

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Free! This museum is right next to the mound. It had lots of information about the mound, arena people, local businesses and other historical items. Everything is free and my kids enjoyed it. After walking thru the museum you can then take a walk up the mound. read more

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We are visiting Moundsville for a wedding, and I'm so happy that I stopped here. The center is beautiful, very informative and has tons of cool archaeological finds. The mound itself is such an awesome sight, so much history here! Like other reviews mentioned, the view from the top is beautiful and is directly across from the penitentiary, which is another thing that attracts visitors here. I will say the climb was steep, and there are no rails. Use caution, but the mound is a little difficult to climb if you're someone that has a difficult time walking. P.S. the entire center is free! Which is so awesome. There is a gift shop on the way out that has local candles, soap, and tons of crystals. All of which are very affordable. If you're in Moundsville, it's a must see! Only took about an hour or so to walk through start to finish. read more

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I can't believe this was a free tour. It was interesting and intriguing. Learned a lot about local history, marble and more. The mound alone is worth the visit. You don't get to see things like it too often. read more

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We visited the Grave Creek Indian Mound, and as before we enjoyed our visit immensely. The museum is FREE to enjoy and there is a very nice gift store to purchase a souvenir. There is a large section about the local marble history. There is also dinosaur bones and other artifacts from the mound. If in the area you should visit this free museum and enjoy!!!! read more

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lots of good info in museum, great gift shop. got out just as the school field trip arrived.

There is so much history to see here. Not just about the mound but the history of the area and beyond. It's free and a great place to visit

Worth the stop. Not a lot to it but definitely a cool quick history lesson if you are in the area. Not enough to warrant the trip by itself though. read more

The view from the top of the mound was stunning and you could see all of Moundsville. The museum and gift shop were great and filled with items from the area. I really enjoyed my visit. read more

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What a treasure! The history of the mound is amazing! The view from the top is beautiful! The museum is really interesting! The gift shop is fun, and the woman working was helpful, informative and friendly! read more

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Great place to visit if ever visiting the area . A lot of history and staff was informative and amazing!

What a cool place to visit. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. I did not expect to walk on top of the mound/grave and was unsure about doing so. After learning the crazy history of this mound including a pub on top of the mount, I thought it would be Ok to walk up the stairs. The walk to the top of the mound wasn't as difficult as walking to the top of a pyramid. There were at least a hundred huge flying "bee/wasp" things larger than a sliver dollar flying around that clearly had a nest next to the staircase. It was so frightening to walk through the swarming wasp-things to get to the top and back down again but no stings happened and the view at the top was cool. The museum has so much great information about the Adena people and the mound's history. I cannot believe this is a free museum. I made a point to purchase something from the gift shop since it was free admission. I was surprised so many reasonably priced items and gemstones. This site is directly across from the historical prison also open for tours. read more

When I was driving all over the country a few years ago, I stopped here in Moundsville specifically to see this 'mound.' In fact, I spent a couple of weeks looking at all the 'mounds' I could find in the middle-Atlantic states. It was pretty cool. Anyway, this one here is very good and the little museum is nicely done. Yes, you will be transported back to 1986 or so but, hey! so what. Museums are expensive to make and this one was very well done at the time and so I am ok with that. Besides, I remember 1986 and so, no I don't think it's that long ago. Excellent information on the history of the local people before white settlers came. Implements, tools and stone blades (of course!) are super awesome. Those few weeks traveling to all the pre-European sites were amazing, a dark rainy fall but such a deep, rich history of the people here before "we" were here. We think we are so important, but - really, we are just another civilization here today and will also pass along to another. The only constant is change, surely history teaches us that. read more

We did the West Virgina State Penitentiary tour across the street and could see the mound from it's front doors. You can't really miss it. The mound is huge and has trees growing out the side of it with a spiraling path to the top of the mound. I thought it was a Hobbit house until I read the sign in front of the building! Turns out the mound is more macabre than a hobbit hole! Inside the Museum building (which is FREE!) you find out that the mound is actually an Adena Burial mound. Inside there are other art exhibits with West Virgina's famous glass blowing, marbles and eerie dolls. The Adena people were a prehistoric tribe that used this burial technique to honor the deceased. You are allowed to walk up to the top of the mound which gives a good view of the surrounding town. It is kinda creepy considering it's an ancient Indian burial ground that you are trending all over. Added to the recent Penitentiary tour we took with it's violent history, I would assume the Mound would make the surrounding houses a hard sell. Got to learn a few tid-bits and any Museum or historic land mark that is free is OK by me. read more

Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex - Steps to the top. - Cultural Center Near Me - Moundsville, West Virginia

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A very interesting historical sight! This giant burial mound is well over 2000 years old according to carbon dating. It contains tombs of ancient people from the area, and beads and artifacts we discovered within in the 1970's. The view from the top is great and the museum is quite informative. read more

Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex - Grave Creek burial mound - Cultural Center Near Me - Moundsville, West Virginia

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A local landmark and a nice piece of our towns history. The museum is informative and fun and climbing the mound itself is fun and provides nice views of the city. A nice addition to a day in town read more

All I can say is Wow. My family and I were very impressed. It was all free and there was so much to look at. They even had little activities for the kids. Definitely recommend going. read more

Great example of an Adena burial mound and the museum is very impressive.

One of the local places that your can go to to learn local history next to the penitentiary

Haven't been here in a few years but what I remember it was very nice. The museum is very nice, free. And the mound is very cool. You can see right over the prison at the top! It's awesome. Definitely recommend going Here. read more