Xenia Township in Oldtown in Greene County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Council House

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 26, 2025

1. Council House Marker

Inscription. In the 1700s, the homes of a Shawnee village were often clustered around a large, rectangular structure known as a longhouse or council house. This important building served as a central gathering place for the community and was framed with sturdy wood poles and covered with sheets of bark. In many traditional council houses, a fire burned inside, and smoke exited through an opening in the center of the roof.

Erected 2024 by Great Council State Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 43.73′ N, 83° 56.246′ W. Marker is in Oldtown, Ohio, in Greene County. It is in Xenia Township. It can be reached from U.S. 68, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1575 US-68, Xenia OH 45385, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro

and in the Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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: Site of Old Chillicothe (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Site of Old Chillicothe (a few steps from this marker); The Shawnee Village (a few steps from this marker); Memorial to Tecumtha (Tecumseh) (a few steps from this marker);

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U Mkvwalamakufewa Tikvmfa / Memorial to Tecumtha (a few steps from this marker); A Vision of Oldtown (a few steps from this marker); Daniel Boone Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Daniel Boone Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oldtown.

Also see . . . The Great Council State Park here in Xenia. Miami Valley Experience website entry (Submitted on August 21, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Council House Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 26, 2025

2. Council House Marker - wide view

Council House Marker - glass etching image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, June 26, 2025

3. Council House Marker - glass etching

It is difficult to get a good photo of what the marker is trying to convey.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on October 7, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 26, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.