National Register of Historic Places

Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site

Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois
Listed
June 13, 1979
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79000816

About this property

The Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site is a pre-Columbian archaeological site located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers in Calhoun County, Illinois. The site is associated with the Havana Hopewell culture and has two main components: the Golden Eagle earthwork and the Toppmeyer habitation site. The earthwork, which dates from the Middle Woodland period (150 BC - 450 AD), is the only geometric earthwork from the period in the central Mississippi River valley. Two mounds are incorporated in the rounded earthwork; one is located at the center, and one is located at a gap which has been called the "entrance" to the earthwork. The Toppmeyer habitation site, which overlaps the western edge of the earthwork, dates from the Late Woodland period (750 AD). The overall site was likely a regional transaction center at which extensive trade and cultural exchange among Hopewell people in the Illinois River valley took place. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1979.

Location

Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Questions about this property

When was Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site listed on the National Register?

Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site?

Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site?

The period of significance for Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site?

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