Casualties of War
— Hopewell Culture National Historical Park — Mound City Group —
In June 1917, the War Department took possession of the Mound City Group mounds. With President Woodrow Wilson's commitment to fight Germany in World War I, the nation needed places to train its troops. As 2,000 buildings were feverishly built, Mound City Group became part of such a place-Camp Sherman. Five thousand men raced to complete construction in less than three months, erecting a building every 20 minutes. They finished just in time for the first draftees to arrive on September 5, 1917.
During the construction fury, local archeologists urged army officials to save the mounds. They convinced the camp commander to reorient one barrack to avoid destroying the largest mound. But the placement of other barracks, roads, and utility lines severely damaged or obliterated the remaining mounds.
Mound City Group (left), seen here shortly before the construction of Camp Sherman, underwent 70 years of cultivation prior to the camp.
The footprint of Camp Sherman (below) covered 2,000 acres. Chillicothe's population swelled from 16,000 to 60,000 people with the army's arrival.
In the early 1920s amid Camp Sherman's
barracks, the Ohio Archaeological and
Historical Society excavated 12 of
the Mound City Group mounds. Their efforts
ignited a push to restore and preserve the
site we know today.
Erected by
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #28 Woodrow Wilson series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1917.
Location. 39° 22.551′ N, 83° 0.393′ W. Marker is in Chillicothe, Ohio, in Ross County. Marker can be reached from Ohio Route 104, 0.2 miles north of Moundsville Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16062 OH-104, Chillicothe OH 45601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ancient Monuments (here, next to this marker); A Flourishing Culture (here, next to this marker); Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (here, next to this marker); Rustic Tobacco (a few steps from this marker); Maygrass (a few steps from this marker); Goosefoot (a few steps from this marker); Squash (a few steps from this marker); Sunflower (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chillicothe.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
