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Witness ancient brilliance in each of the Hopewell earthworks

Great Circle Earthworks

Great Circle Earthworks Sunrise

Great Circle Earthworks

Octagon Earthworks

Octagon Earth Works

Octagon Earthworks

Mound City

Mound City

Mound City

Hopewell Mound Group

Hopewell Earthworks

Hopewell Mound Group

Hopeton Earthworks

Hopeton Earthworks

Hopeton Earthworks

High Bank Works

High Bank Works

High Bank Works

Seip Earthworks

Seip Earthworks

Seip Earthworks

Fort Ancient

Fort Ancient

Fort Ancient

A memorable and enriching experience

Discover the Awe-Inspiring Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site

Masterpieces of human creative genius, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are gigantic earthen enclosures built by American Indians 2,000 years ago. They were places of ceremony connected to the cosmos by alignments to key risings and settings of the moon and sun. Come and experience these sacred earthworks of the ancient Hopewell culture and gain a new appreciation of the achievements of Ohio’s Indigenous peoples—as well as a deeper connection to the world and our place in it.

Photo by: John Hancock

Photo by: National Park Service/Tom Engberg

Photo by: John Hancock

Photo by: John Hancock

Photo by: NPS

Masterpieces of human creative genius, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are gigantic earthen enclosures built by American Indians 2,000 years ago. They were places of ceremony connected to the cosmos by alignments to key risings and settings of the moon and sun. Come and experience these sacred earthworks of the ancient Hopewell culture and gain a new appreciation of the achievements of Ohio’s Indigenous peoples—as well as a deeper connection to the world and our place in it.

Where Earth Meets Sky

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are complex masterpieces of landscape architecture. The huge squares, circles, and octagons, which are geometrically precise and align perfectly with the cycles of the sun and moon, were built by dispersed communities of American Indians who periodically gathered at these special places to worship and stay connected to one another. The earthworks are incredibly big to accommodate those large numbers of people.

Artifacts found at these sites are made from unusual raw materials such as mica from Appalachia, seashells from the Gulf of Mexico, and obsidian from the Rocky Mountains. This shows that people traveled here from the ends of the Hopewell world bringing with them rare and precious gifts. The immense effort this would have required further solidifies these earthworks as centers of human ingenuity.

Great Circle Earthworks

Great Circle Earthworks Sunrise

Great Circle Earthworks

Octagon Earthworks

Octagon Earth Works

Octagon Earthworks

Mound City

Mound City

Mound City

Hopewell Mound Group

Hopewell Earthworks

Hopewell Mound Group

Hopeton Earthworks

Hopeton Earthworks

Hopeton Earthworks

High Bank Works

High Bank Works

High Bank Works

Seip Earthworks

Seip Earthworks

Seip Earthworks

Fort Ancient

Fort Ancient

Fort Ancient
UNESCO logo

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.

News and Events

News

UNESCO World Heritage Inscription – One Year Anniversary

19

sept

Please join us in commemorating the 1-year anniversary of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.   Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Commemoration September 19 Chillicothe, OH Join us at the Mound City Group Visitor Center for activities and fun commemorating our one-year anniversary as a World Heritage Site! All events… Read More

News

Ohio History Connection, Moundbuilders Country Club reach settlement to buy out lease

1

aug

  COLUMBUS – The Ohio History Connection will open the Octagon Earthworks in Newark for full public access Jan. 1, 2025, after reaching a settlement with Moundbuilders Country Club to buy out its lease on the property. The organizations have agreed to settle for a confidential sum, averting a jury trial in the Licking County… Read More

News

Framing Hopewell: A Photo Contest

13

sept

  To celebrate our one-year inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we invite you to join our photo contest, “Framing Hopewell”. This contest intends to highlight the abundant wildlife, natural beauty and people connected to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks World Heritage Site. This site holds profound historical and cultural importance, and we encourage you… Read More

Feel Ancient Wisdom Written in the Land

You can experience a feeling of wonder, connection, and reverence at each of these amazing earthworks. Find everything you need to plan your visit to one or all of them here.

The People Behind the Earthworks

History & Discovery

Dig deeper into the archaeological discovery of the earthworks, the impact of the arrival of European settlers, and the Indigenous perspectives on their history.

The Hopewell Culture

The ancient American Indian Hopewell culture created these magnificent monuments though cooperation and shared beliefs. The earthworks and the artifacts found there are clues to the way of life of these unique people — a biography written in the land.

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