Portsmouth in Scioto County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Introduction

Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History

⎯⎯⎯
The Mound Builders
⎯⎯⎯
Early Shawnee Village, 1730
⎯⎯⎯
Celeron de Blainville, 1749

2000 Feet of Art

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

1. Introduction / The Mound Builders / Early Shawnee Village, 1730 / Celeron de Blainville, 1749 Marker

Inscription. Introduction The idea of painting murals on the floodwall first occurred to lifetime residents Dr. Louis R. and Ava Chaboudy in 1992 after viewing outdoor murals in Steubenville, Ohio. An ad hoc committee was formed, and the decision was made to transform the floodwall into a beautiful outdoor art gallery depicting the history of Portsmouth and the surrounding area. In May 1993, internationally known muralist, Robert Dafford from Lafayette, Louisiana began painting on the longest mural in the project, the 1903 scene of Portsmouth.

The initial mural project was completed in October of 2002 with 2,200 linear feet of art and 52 magnificently painted murals. Additional murals have been added since then.

The Mound Builders The Mound Builders built and occupied mounds in southern Ohio long before explorers came to the New World. The central area of this mural reveals a linear image of two horseshoe-shaped mounds, in what is known as Mound Park, that course southeastward across the Ohio River to a "medicine wheel” mound located at the Hardin Farm near Siloam, Kentucky. This lineup of mounds is said to

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have had some equinoctial significance to the Mound Builders. Mound Park is located on Grant Street in Portsmouth and Serpent Mound is located on State Route 73 near Peebles, Ohio.

"Art of the Ancients", a permanent exhibition from the Wertz Collection, includes 10,000 prehistoric Native American artifacts from the Mound Building Cultures of the Ohio River Valley, and can be seen at the Southern Ohio Museum, 825 Gallia Street. www.somacc.com

Early Shawnee Village, 1730 Shawnee Indians first arrived in the mid-Ohio Valley during the 1100's, migrating from Central Mexico. Since they were nomadic and traveled great distances, they became knowledgeable traders. The Shawnee returned to the area in the late 1600's, traveling west from Pennsylvania. This mural shows a winter scene of a Shawnee Village with a view from the north, looking across the Ohio River. The Native Americans in the mural can be seen wearing customary clothing and jewelry. The men in the picture are busy in the activity of trading while the children play. The huts were composed primarily of tree bark and animal hides covering wooden frames.

Celeron de Blainville, 1749 This

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

2. Introduction / The Mound Builders / Early Shawnee Village, 1730 / Celeron de Blainville, 1749 Marker

mural is a larger-than-life size copy of a mural by H.H. Wessel, located in the law library of the Scioto County Courthouse on 6th Street, Portsmouth. The French General, Celeron de Blainville, is shown meeting with Native Americans and a few British traders at the confluence of the Ohio and Scioto Rivers laying claim to the entire Ohio Valley and its tributaries. This was done by burying lead plates at certain locations along the course of the Ohio River. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio, Portsmouth, Floodwall Murals series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1993.

Location. 38° 43.844′ N, 83° 0.03′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Ohio, in Scioto County. It is on Front Street just east of Court Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 613 Front St, Portsmouth OH 45662, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern

The Mound Builders mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

3. The Mound Builders mural

Ohio Hill Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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) 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: Alexandria / Alexandria Flood / Stone House / Court Street Gateway (here, next to this marker); Platting of Portsmouth, 1803 / The 1810 House / The 1812 Era / Flood Gate House / Early Boneyfiddle (within shouting distance of this marker); James M. Ashley and the Abolition of Slavery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stagecoach / Hanging Rock Region / Ohio and Erie Canal / Early Industries (about 300 feet away); Flood of 1937 (about 300 feet away); Portsmouth and the Ohio River (about 500 feet away); First Presbyterian Church (about 600 feet away); Tenth Street Station / Market Square / Portsmouth 1903 (about 700 feet away).

Early Shawnee Village mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

4. Early Shawnee Village mural

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Other markers no longer nearby. Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Scioto County, Experience Our Heritage (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Celeron de Blainville, 1749 mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

5. Celeron de Blainville, 1749 mural

Floodwall Murals Signage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, January 7, 2021

6. Floodwall Murals Signage

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 841 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Introduction

Floodwall Murals, 2000 Feet of History

⎯⎯⎯The Mound Builders⎯⎯⎯Early Shawnee Village, 1730⎯⎯⎯Celeron de Blainville, 1749

2000 Feet of Art

⎯⎯⎯
The Mound Builders
⎯⎯⎯
Early Shawnee Village, 1730
⎯⎯⎯
Celeron de Blainville, 1749