Chillicothe in Ross County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 10, 2019

1. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Marker

North face

Inscription.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. . , The World's Most Spectacular Concentration of Ancient Earthworks , No where else on earth are there so many of these unique ceremonial complexes so close together. Many scientists suspect that Ross County, Ohio, may have been the most important cultural center in eastern North America 2,000 years ago., Hopewell Culture National Historical Park preserves six of the magnificent ancient monuments in the Chillicothe area. Start your exploration of this fascinating Native American culture here at Mound City Group., The Ancient Earthworks Of Ross County, Ohio , The six sites managed by the National Park Service are circled in green and enlarged. Spruce Hill is co-managed with the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, which owns the site., Native American Indians of the Hopewell culture designed and built enormous geometric earthworks to serve as their ceremonial gathering sites. These ancient monuments are the awe-inspiring achievements of an extraordinary people who were advanced in mathematics, engineering, architecture, art and astronomy. The Hopewell culture remained a dominant influence throughout eastern North America for over 400 years., What is there to do here? , Marvel at the prehistoric artifacts excavated from Mound City in the museum - 2,000 year old American art, a national treasure! Just enter the visitor center., Explore the prehistoric past by interacting with the touch screen in the museum. See computer generated images of lost earthworks. Dig as deep as you like to learn more about the mysterious Hopewell Culture., Walk through Mound City, this 2,000 year old sacred ceremonial and burial grounds of prehistoric American Indians. Ask the park angers for a trail map. , Become a Junior Ranger! Earn a badge like a national park ranger's by learning about Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Ask the park ranger for an official Junior Ranger booklet to begin., Watch 'Legacy of the Mound Builders', the 17 minute introductory video in the auditorium., Journey to the other fascinating prehistoric carthwork sites of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Ask the park rangers for directions and trail maps for Hopewell Mound Group and Seip Earthworks., ...and it's all free of charge!

The World's Most Spectacular Concentration of Ancient Earthworks
No where else on earth are there so many of these unique ceremonial complexes so close together. Many scientists suspect that Ross County, Ohio, may have been the most important cultural center in eastern North America 2,000 years ago.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park preserves six of the magnificent ancient monuments in the Chillicothe area. Start your exploration of this fascinating Native American culture here at Mound City Group.

The Ancient Earthworks Of Ross County, Ohio
The six sites managed by the National Park Service are circled in green and enlarged. Spruce Hill is co-managed with the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, which owns the site.

Native American Indians of the Hopewell culture designed and built enormous geometric earthworks to serve as their ceremonial gathering sites. These ancient monuments are the awe-inspiring achievements of an extraordinary people who were advanced in mathematics, engineering, architecture, art and astronomy. The Hopewell culture remained a dominant influence throughout eastern North America for over 400 years.

What is there to do here?
Marvel at the prehistoric artifacts excavated from Mound City in the museum - 2,000 year old American art, a national treasure! Just enter the visitor center.

Explore the prehistoric past by interacting with the touch screen in the museum. See computer generated images of lost earthworks. Dig as deep as you like to learn more about the mysterious Hopewell Culture.

Walk through Mound City, this 2,000 year old sacred ceremonial and burial grounds of prehistoric American Indians. Ask the park angers for a trail map.

Become a Junior Ranger! Earn a badge like a national park ranger's by learning about Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Ask the park ranger for an official Junior Ranger booklet to begin.

Watch 'Legacy of the Mound Builders', the 17 minute introductory video in the auditorium.

Journey to the other fascinating prehistoric carthwork sites of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Ask the park rangers for directions and trail maps for Hopewell Mound Group and Seip Earthworks.

...and it's all free of charge!

Erected by National

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

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

Location. 39° 22.564′ N, 83° 0.387′ W. Marker is in Chillicothe, Ohio, in Ross County. It is on 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 State Route 104, Chillicothe OH 45601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

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

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 10, 2019

2. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Marker

South face

marker: A Sacred Purpose (here, next to this marker); Squash (here, next to this marker); Goosefoot (here, next to this marker); Sunflower (here, next to this marker); Maygrass (here, next to this marker); Marshelder, Sumpweed (here, next to this marker); Rustic Tobacco (here, next to this marker); Casualties of War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chillicothe.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 5, 2021

3. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, March 10, 2019

4. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 532 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on July 5, 2026, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 7, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on February 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.