Bratton Township near Peebles in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Exploring Serpent Mound
Fredric Ward Putnam
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018
1. Exploring Serpent Mound - Fredric Ward Putnam Marker
"the most singular sensation of awe and admiration overwhelmed me there seemed to come to me a picture as of a distant time, of a people with strange customs, and with it came the demand for an interpretation of this mystery. The unknown must become known."
Federic Ward Putnam on his first visit to Serpent Mound
Much of what we know about Serpent Mound is due to the work of Frederic W. Putnam of Harvard University's Peabody Museum.
Putnam studied the site between 1887 and 1889. He excavated parts of Serpent Mound, three nearby burial mounds and a village site.
Putnam also helped to preserve Serpent Mound. He inspired his colleague at the Peabody Museum, Alice Fletcher, to raise money to purchase the site so that it could be preserved for future generations.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 1.463′ N, 83° 25.754′ W. Marker was near Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. It was in Bratton Township.
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Southern Ohio Hill Country. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (a few steps from this marker); Welcome To Serpent Mound (a few steps from this marker); Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronomical Alignments at Serpent Mound? (within
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018
2. Exploring Serpent Mound - Fredric Ward Putnam Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); What Is An Effigy Mound? (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Village Site (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Who Built Serpent Mound? (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018
3. Exploring Serpent Mound - Fredric Ward Putnam Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018
4. Exploring Serpent Mound - Fredric Ward Putnam Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 833 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on March 17, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
