Universally Revered, Globally Recognized
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Stonehenge, The Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Great Wall of China, must have outstanding universal value to humanity. No matter where they’re located, these sites serve to honor and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks joined more than 1,100 other important places on this distinguished list. It is the first and only UNESCO site in the state of Ohio.
Blogs
Blog
Honoring Ancient Indigenous History at Newark’s Octagon Earthworks
30
Dec
By Brad Lepper, Senior Archaeologist for the Ohio History Connection’s World Heritage Program On January 1st, 2025, a new era dawns for Newark’s Octagon Earthworks, one of the brightest jewels in the crown of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage site. This 2,000-year-old Indigenous wonder of the world has been shrouded by a golf…
Blog
Road Trippin’ with Truda: Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks
01
Jul
Join me as I visit the sites in the Ohio History Connection network! This month’s road trip took me to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks sites in Oregonia, Chillicothe and Newark & Heath. For this month’s road trip, I definitely bit off more than I could chew. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the recent addition…
News
News
Join us For World Heritage Week 2026!
01
Jan
Join us for a eight days of commemorating the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site! Saturday, April 11 Great Circle Earthworks 455 Hebron Road, Heath, OH 43056 11 a.m.: Guided tour with Site Staff. $10/Adult, $7/Senior, $5/Students & Free/Ohio History Connection members Fort Ancient Earthworks 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia, OH 45054…
News
Octagon Earthworks Voted Country’s Best New Attraction for 2026
13
Jan
We’re No. 1! The Octagon Earthworks in Newark once again is in the national spotlight after being voted the country’s best new attraction for 2026 in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The Octagon won the popular vote and was first among the 10 new attractions voted on by USA TODAY and Gannett readers. We…
News
2,000 Years of Legacy—2 Years of Global Recognition
19
Sep
Celebrate a monumental legacy! On September 19, 2025, join us in honoring the second anniversary of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks’ inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This special weekend will feature tours and events across three sites including: Octagon Earthworks Free tours at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Great Circle Earthworks Tour at 2…