Louden in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Serpent Mound Impact Crater

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

1. Serpent Mound Impact Crater Marker

Inscription.
Serpent Mound sits within a large crater almost nine miles across. The bedrock in the center of the crater has been thrust upward to between 400 and 900 feet above its original position, while an outer ring of bedrock has dropped from at least 200 feet to as much as 800 feet. In all, about seven cubic miles of rock were smashed.

The Serpent Mound crater doesn't look much like other known impact craters, such as Meteor Crater in Arizona, but millions of of erosion have erased many of the years surface features typical of such craters. Recent research has shown that the area does indeed represent the remnants of a large crater from a meteorite impact.

Did the people who built Serpent Mound choose this location because they recognized that it was a meteorite crater? Probably not, but we may never know for sure.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 39° 1.411′ N, 83° 25.787′ W. Marker is in Louden, Ohio, in Adams County. It is on Ohio Route 73 one mile west of Horner CHeapel Road (County Route 163). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3854 OH-73, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern 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 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); The Village Site

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Burial Mound (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Welcome To Serpent Mound (about 300 feet away); Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Burial Mound (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louden.

Other markers no longer nearby. Welcome To Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); What Is An Effigy Mound? (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Village Site (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Exploring Serpent Mound

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 15, 2025

2. Serpent Mound Impact Crater Marker

(was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); Who Built Serpent Mound? (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 523 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.