Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Symmes Monument

Hollow Earth Theory

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

1. Symmes Monument Marker

Inscription. - “I declare the earth is hollow and habitable within,” said John Cleves Symmes in summarizing his “Theory of Concentric Spheres and Solar Voids” to a doubting scientific world in the early 1820’s. His theory is commemorated by this monument, topped by a replica of a hollow earth. Symmes believed plant and animal life existed within the opening of the hollow earth. The opening was called the Symmes Hole. The former army officer tried to persuade the U.S. Congress to finance hollow – earth exploration. After an exhaustive lecture tour on behalf of his theory, Symmes died May 29, 1829, on his Butler County farm. He was buried here in the pioneer Hamilton cemetery, which Israel Ludlow had provided when he laid out the town in the 1790’s. The theorist was the nephew of Judge John Cleves Symmes (1741- 1814), who promoted settlement in this region after buying land north of the Ohio River between the Little Miami and Great Miami rivers. When Greenwood Cemetery was created north of Hamilton in 1848, many of the remains in the Hamilton graveyard were removed to the new cemetery, but Symmes body remained

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in its original location. In 1873, his son, Americus Symmes, obtained permission to erect a monument in the Fourth Ward park. A $16,000 renovation, commissioned by Historic Hamilton Inc., was completed in 1991.

Erected 1991 by Historic Hamilton Inc.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 23.702′ N, 84° 33.741′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ohio, in Butler County. It is on South Third Street near Charles Str, on the left when traveling south. marker is at the SW corner of Symmes Park Playground, originally Ludlow Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 436 S 3rd S, Hamilton OH 45011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is in Greater Cincinnati

and in the Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

2. Symmes Monument Marker

full view of marker, the Symmes Monument is to far left on the sidewalk

Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Hollow Earth Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Pvt. Paul Bonnel (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pilgrim Baptist Church / A Beacon of Light for Over a Hundred Years (approx. 0.2 miles away); Abraham Lincoln's 1859 Hamilton Speech (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Hamilton Gateway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Butler County Courthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cosmopolitan No. 4 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Flood Level (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

3. Symmes Monument Marker

the Symmes Hollow Earth Monument

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick

4. Symmes Monument Marker

drawing of monument from Henry Howe's "Historical Cllections of Ohio"

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

5. Symmes Monument Marker

the fence across the south boundary of the park, mimmicks the monument

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 813 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 20, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 18, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 5. submitted on April 20, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.