OHIO TOURISM

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks | UNESCO World Heritage Site

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A series of eight monumental earthen enclosure complexes built between 2,000 and 1,600 years ago along the central tributaries of the Ohio River. They are the most representative surviving expressions of the Indigenous tradition now referred to as the Hopewell culture.

Their scale and complexity are evidenced in precise geometric figures as well as hilltops sculpted to enclose vast, level plazas. There are alignments with the cycles of the Sun and the far more complex cycles of the Moon. These earthworks served as ceremonial centers and the sites have yielded finely crafted ritual objects fashioned from exotic raw materials obtained from distant places.

American Indian Events Calendar

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This page includes a Google Calendar of American Indian related events within Ohio and the Midwest, available site tours, and exhibits. Sources include not only our events, but also those of the Ohio History Connection, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Serpent Mound, Fort Ancient, Sunwatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park, Fort Recovery, Flint Ridge, and many others.

The Ancient Ohio Trail

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Immerse yourself in the heartland of ancient America, where spectacular  cultures created the largest concentration of geometric earthen architecture in the world.

The Ancient Ohio Trail
Explore their vast and precise enclosures, effigies, embankments, and walled hilltops. See their dazzling art works preserved in area museums.

A complete travel experience awaits you along the Ancient Ohio Trail. 

Discover why OHIO was the cultural epicenter of North America two thousand years ago!





Exhibits

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Our Storytellers Bodéwadmi Wisgat Gokpenagen The Black Ash Baskets of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

October 10, 2022- 

Three baskets made of splints from the Black Ash tree. Some strips are colored a deep brown and a soft black. Image courtesy of the Newark Earthworks Center, The Ohio State University.Free and Open to the Public.

Bricker Hall Lobby

190 North Oval Mall | Columbus, OH 43210

Potawatomi basket making is a reclamation and recovery of a powerful piece of native knowledge and technology and represents a potent counter-colonial and counter-hegemonic act with lasting implications. This exhibit reflects an understanding that objects are not lifeless things that occupy space. They have spirit and meaning. Centered upon intellectual and material property, basket weaving is an opportunity for Native women and men to make their own histories by using the past to "read the present.

This exhibit is curated by Director of the Newark Earthworks Center John N. Low, PhD, associate professor in Comparative Studies at The Ohio State University and enrolled citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

Sponsored by The Newark Earthworks Center with support from an Indigenous Arts and Humanities Grant by the Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme.

Anna Tsouhlarakis: The Native Guide Project: Columbus

Feb 11, 2023–Jul 09, 2023
Free for all audiences
See a full list of gallery policies on wexarts.org, including items prohibited in the galleries.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate, please contact Accessibility Manager Helyn Marshall at accessibility@wexarts.org or via telephone at (614) 688-3890. Requests made by two weeks in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the Wexner Center for the Arts will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.

Reframing the discourse around Native American identity, artist of Navajo, Creek, and Greek descent Anna Tsouhlarakis focuses on the forced migration of Indigenous peoples—including in Central Ohio.
A multilayered commission, The Native Guide Project: Columbus builds on Tsouhlarakis’s The Native Guide Project (2019–present), which deploys phrases that are concise and piercing, such as “I LIKE HOW YOU SEE NATIVE AMERICANS AS YOUR INTELLECTUAL EQUAL.” The new work will engage the center’s interior and exterior spaces, as well as sites around Columbus through a partnership with Orange Barrel Media.
The Native Guide Project: Columbus continues the artist’s earlier text-based works such as Edges of the Ephemeral (2012) and In Other Words: A Native Primer (2013)—in which she worked closely with members of Native American communities about their beliefs and experiences.
In January and February 2023, the center’s dedicated video gallery The Box will present Tsouhlarakis’s short Breath of Wind.

For more information, visit the Wex!

Indigenous Wonders of Our World | The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Now open at the Ohio History Center, discover some of the vast earthworks that American Indian people built 2,000 years ago. Their new exhibit,  [external link], explores eight ancient earthworks in Ohio that are candidates for the United Nations’ World Heritage List, a list of the world’s greatest wonders.

In this interactive exhibit, learn how ancient American Indians employed astronomy and geometry to align the earthworks with cycles of the sun and moon, see 2,000-year old artifacts that suggest what people did at these sacred sites and leave with a new appreciation for eight extraordinary landmarks in our midst.

The exhibit and its programs are included with museum admission. Admission ranges from $7 to $13 and is free for Ohio History Connection members. For more information, visit ohiohistory.org [external link].

Ohio History Connection
800 E. 17th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 

Ohio’s First Humanists: Native Americans 
from Mound Building to Modern Voices

This online exhibit traces Indigenous Americans’ material and cultural contributions to Ohio from their early creation of large earthworks to modern representations and reflections on the past.

Learn about First Nations’ roles in shaping place names and get interpretive glimpses in to early Ohio’s history of Native American-white contact, which included collaboration, conflict, and removal.

Explore present-day stewardship of Native American culture and art, including the impressive collection of Diné (Navajo) weavings at the Kennedy Museum of Art [external link], as well as the voices of innovative communicators looking to change perceptions about Native American peoples and powerful leaders, such as Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Nation whose ancestors were displaced from these lands.

And discover the value of moving beyond traditional Eurocentric understandings of the humanities to explore the first humans to inhabit this region and North America more broadly.

The curators extend special thanks to John N. Low, Ph.D., Citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and Director of the Newark Earthworks Center, Ohio State University Newark Campus, for his advice and review of this exhibit.


Crossroads of Destiny: Indians Settlement Treaty 
of Greene Ville

"a stunning exhibit telling the history of the Treaty of Greene Ville. Greene Ville was the largest stockaded fort ever built in North America and it was the scene of the most significant American Indian treaty ever negotiated. The Treaty of Greene Ville of 1795 opened the door to the settlement of the Midwest and resulted in Ohio statehood eight years later. The Treaty also ended forty years of conflict over the upper Ohio Valley."


For more information, visit: https://www.garstmuseum.org/exhibits .

Tour Ohio Cultural Sites

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Ohio Museums & Historic Sites

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Ohio Tourism Bureaus

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Tours

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Flint Ridge: Tours

"Students take an outdoor interpretive hike and an indoor tour of the museum where they learn how flint was formed, where it's found, its properties, and how it was used. Students will get the chance to use the ancient pump drill to make a shell necklace, learn how to throw a 6 foot dart with the atlatl (an ancient hunting weapon), and knap a piece of flint into an arrowhead. Other activities are available upon request.

Non-School or Family Groups: You can participate in the same activities as school groups or we will work with you to tailor your visit to your individual needs.

Youth and Scout Groups: We will work with you to make your time here informative, fun, and unforgettable. Overnight campouts can be arranged. We can offer a variety of activities to suit your needs.

Pricing for groups varies - depending upon which activities are selected and other specific requirements.
School Groups - $5 per students (teachers and bus drivers are free)
Youth & Scout Groups - $3 per person plus a donation for park rental
Other Groups - $5 per person"
For more information, visit: www.flintridgeohio.org.

Fort Ancient: Tours

The museum and grounds are open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

The best way to preserve and protect the earthworks is to not walk on them. The use of drones is prohibited at all Ohio History Connection sites. To inquire about commercial filming permits, contact Neil Thompson, manager of media and public relations, at nthompson@ohiohistory.org

"Available to groups of twenty or more, guided tours are led by docents whose knowledge of Fort Ancient is sure to engage your imagination and make your Fort Ancient visit a rich and rewarding experience. The tours are approximately one and a half hours long beginning with an introductory film in the indoor theatre, viewing artifacts and a tour. Visitors unable to participate in the walking tour of the facilities can sit comfortably on the patio which arches out toward the grounds giving an unobstructed view; a docent will guide you through the history the earthworks and its ancient residents. Visitors are also welcome to enjoy a self-guided tour. Fort Ancient staff is available to answer questions.

To further enhance the visit, a special hands-on activity may be requested when registering for a guided tour. Activities include making Native American musical instruments, pottery and jewelry. An additional fee may be required.

Although Fort Ancient does not have a cafeteria, guests may bring their lunches and eat under the pavilions.
A one month advance registration is required for guided tours. Drivers and escort/organizers receive complimentary admission...

Fort Ancient offers five age appropriate guided tours designed to compliment classroom and Home School curriculum guidelines. Each tour provides students with an interesting and unique educational experience. Appropriate supervision is required for student groups.

An overnight in the Interpretive Center or a house in the partially-reconstructed Village adds a different perspective to the Fort Ancient experience. Spend an exciting, fun-filled, and educational night shopping in The Fort Ancient Store, participating in Native American crafts and listening to Native American stories...

Tour Fees:
School Groups
$5.00 per student
$5.00 per adult chaperone
Free admission for parent helpers who assist with the school program.
Programs are available for groups of 20 or more

Adult and Senior Groups: $5.00 per adult.

For most tours, groups should allow 45 minutes to 1 hour (grades K – 2) and a minimum of 2 hours (grades 3+). Please note that for all groups, parents/chaperones will be asked to assist students with scavenger hunts through the Museum. Some programs may vary, based on the weather, but alternative programs will be made available in cases of inclement weather.

For larger groups (over 60) a maximum of 6 parents/chaperones will be asked to assist students with scavenger hunts through the Museum. It is best if parent helpers can arrive 40 minutes early for a short orientation, helping provide the best possible program for the students.

For grades 4 through 12, and groups larger than 20, the students will begin with an orientation to Ohio Valley prehistory. After the orientation, the group will be divided into two separate groups; half of the students will explore the Museum while the other half participates in a series of hands-on activities, including spear throwing, double ball and a classroom program. The groups will then switch, allowing each student to benefit from the full experience.
  • Tools of Mother Nature (PreK-Grade 1)...
  • Program: Explorer (Grades 2-6) Available September - May ONLY...
  • Critical Thinking (Grades 7+)...
Day Care Centers and Home Schools
Due to the wide range of ages present, home schools and day care center programs are designed to provide the same fun and access to all that Fort Ancient has to offer, while accommodating their unique needs. Children will begin their program with an orientation of Fort Ancient in the classroom. Students can also explore over 75 objects in the classroom, and scavenger hunt materials will be provided for the home school parents or day care leaders in order to complete the Museum tour at a pace that best suits the needs of all their students.

Each educational program meets the designated curriculum requirements for each grade level. The classroom has many objects to touch and explore including, stone axes, a grinding stone, sinew, brain tanned leather, wooden pottery puzzles, bird nest puzzles, a deer skeleton puzzle, animal hides and bone tools, two large raw hide drums, small hand drums, rattles, an 18th Century dress up box, and a small wigwam.
If time permits, students are encouraged to have lunch in the picnic area and to walk a trail. Please allow at least two hours in the museum and additional time for picnicking and hiking."


For more information, visit: Fort Ancients' Tour pagehere.

Marietta | Ohio's First Adventure: Ancient Earthworks: Tours

"We’ll visit flat-topped pyramids that bear an uncanny resemblance to Aztec temples; walk down a sacred road more than 20 centuries old; and stand atop the Quadranou Mound where ancient astronomer-priests studied the movement of the sun, moon and stars.

We’ll also explore enigmatic Mound Cemetery, the final resting place of Revolutionary War Patriots, and hear local myths of lost tribes, refugees from Atlantis, giants, goblins and buried treasure as we walk through the lovely Victorian neighborhood that surrounds the mounds.

This tour is a fantastic opportunity to step way back in time. Over 2000 years old, the earthworks in this area are an important key to Marietta’s past."

The Marietta Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a free walking guide, designed for individuals in groups less than six, which can be found, here.

For more information, visit: Marietta | Ohio's First Adventurehere.

Newark Earthworks
The park is open daylight to dusk. The best way to preserve and protect the earthworks is to not walk on them. The use of drones is prohibited at all Ohio History Connection sites. To inquire about commercial filming permits, contact Neil Thompson, manager of media and public relations, at nthompson@ohiohistory.org

The restrooms near the shelter houses are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A guided tour of the Great Circle is offered the first Friday of the month, April - December, at 12:30 p.m. Please meet at the map in front of the museum.

Note: the parking lots are a moderate distance from earthworks and museum.  A paved path with some steps provides access to the museum but there is no direct walkway to the center of the Great Circle.

Please note all tours will be postponed or canceled in the event of severe storms that include high winds, thunder and lightning.

"Learn more about the earthworks by visiting the Great Circle Museum. Visitors are invited to watch an interactive video explaining the significance of the site and tour a 1,000-square-foot exhibit that includes a timeline of Ohio's ancient cultures and an explanation of why American Indians regard the Newark Earthworks as a sacred site. The exhibit also details how the earthworks align with the rising and setting of the moon.

Following the museum tour, you can take self-guided tours of the grounds during daylight hours. Average visit time: Allow 1+ hours.

Admission
Great Circle: All Visitors Donations Accepted
Octagon: Free
Wright: Free
School groups: $5.00 per student
Guided Adult groups of 10 or more: $5 per person
Museum is Closed All Holidays."

For more information, call 740-344-0498 or visit: Ohio History Connection | Newark Earthworks, here.

SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park: Tours

  • ​"You do not need to make reservation or buy tickets in advance.
  • The site includes an Interpretive Center with an indoor exhibit and gift shop, as well as a quarter mile outdoor loop through our partially reconstructed village. A picnic shelter is also available in front of the building."

"*Please note that the individual scheduling your visit will receive a packet, unless otherwise specified, confirming your reservation approximately one month prior to your visit. Please call immediately if you are unable to keep your scheduled reservation.

Fun at SunWatch - (all ages) 60 minutes

This one hour program offers students and adults of all ages an opportunity to discover the people of SunWatch through sensory activities, artifact encounters, demonstrations and games. This all ages experience includes a brief introductory video on SunWatch, a museum scavenger hunt, and a focus on hands on engagement throughout the village, making it perfect for our youngest visitors.

K.Hist.1,2,3,4 - K.Geog.6,7

SunWatch Discovery Tour - (Grades 2+) 2 hours

Unearth the history of SunWatch Indian Village and learn more about its prehistoric inhabitants, the Fort Ancient people. Program includes an introductory film, a guided trip through the museum, and a tour of the reconstructed village where our skilled interpreters will cater the experience to the age of your group.

Gr1.Hist.2,3 - Gr1.Geog.5,6,6 - Gr1.Econ.13 - Gr2.Hist.3 - Gr2.Geog.6,7,8 - Gr3.Hist.2,3 – Gr3.Geog.5,6,6 -Gr3.Econ.15 – Gr4.Hist.2,3 - Gr4.Geog.9,12 - Gr5.Hist.2,3 - Gr5.Geog.4,7,8,9 Gr5.Econ.16 - Gr7.Hist1 Gr7.Geog.12,13,15 – Gr7.Govt.16

Archaeology Field Class - (Grades 4-8) 2 hours

Students will participate in the archaeological field process, gaining an understanding of how field work is planned and conducted. Students will learn applied geography and mathematic skills to lay out excavation units and survey an area of the site. Using custom excavation pits filled with recreated features and artifacts students will then learn how to map archaeological units, recover and catalog artifacts and finally record and analyze their findings.

There is a limit of 25 participants and the cost is $25 per student. Program Variable based on age and time constraints.

Distance Learning Programs - 60 minutes

Prehistoric People of the Ohio Valley
Explore 10,000 years of Prehistory with this introduction to our regions ancient past. Students will learn about human migration into the Americas, the creation of distinct cultures unique to the Ohio Valley, how those cultures lived and how they shaped our landscape in ways that still persist today.

Gr2.Hist.3 - Gr2.Geog.6,7,8 - Gr3.Hist.2,3 – Gr3.Geog.5,6,6 Gr3.Econ.15 – Gr4.Hist.2,3 - Gr4.Geog.9,12 - Gr5.Hist.2,3 - Gr5.Geog.4,7,8,9 - Gr5.Econ.16 - Gr7.Hist1 - Gr7.Geog.12,13,15 – Gr7.Govt.16

Prehistoric Technology
Learn about the technologies employed by the prehistoric inhabitants of SunWatch Indian Village! Analyze prehistoric materials with our archaeologist to understand invention and change, learn the physics of flint knapping and understand the engineering behind the architecture of SunWatch Indian Village.

SunWatch Discovery Program
Discover SunWatch and the Fort Ancient people who lived here from your own classroom or event space! Our skilled educators will use artifacts, reproduction tools, images, maps and models to bring the experience of visiting SunWatch Indian Village to you.

Gr1.Hist.2,3 - Gr1.Geog.5,6,6 - Gr1.Econ.13 - Gr2.Hist.3 - Gr2.Geog.6,7,8 - Gr3.Hist.2,3 – Gr3.Geog.5,6,6 Gr3.Econ.15 – Gr4.Hist.2,3 - Gr4.Geog.9,12 - Gr5.Hist.2,3 - Gr5.Geog.4,7,8,9 Gr5.Econ.16 - Gr7.Hist1 Gr7.Geog.12

Guided Group Tour Fees
$5/guest
One adult/chaperone admitted free for every 15 students
For additional information please call 937.268.8199 or email education@sunwatch.org ."

World Heritage Ohio

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World Heritage Ohio Bookmark and Link.
Ohio’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination process is being managed by the Steering Committee, currently chaired by John E. Hancock of the University of Cincinnati, and comprised of representatives from each of the owners, managers, and interpreters of the sites.

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