Fort Ancient
Oregonia, OH
Built around 2,000 years ago by the Ancestors of many modern American Indian tribes, Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve is Ohio’s oldest state park and the largest hilltop enclosure in North America. While the name suggests that this site was used as some kind of defensive structure, evidence shows it was actually a gathering place used for ceremonial purposes.
Home- Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Sites
- Fort Ancient
Visitor Info
6123 State Route 350
Oregonia, OH 45054
- Park grounds & visitor center:
- Wednesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon–5 p.m.
- Closures: The site will be Closed Wed., July 22nd for staff training.
- Admissions end at 4 p.m. Gift shop closes at 4:30 p.m. Site closes promptly at 5 p.m. Museum and grounds may close during inclement weather. Closed for the following holidays/dates: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Tours: Guided tours are available on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1 p.m. with Archaeologist Bill Kennedy, lasting between 60-90 minutes. There is no preregistration required. Included with admission
Coordinates:
39.4067824 °N
84.0893218 °W
What you'll see
Built on a steep bluff overlooking the Little Miami River, Fort Ancient is a nature-lover’s paradise with miles of trails, earthen embankments, and hidden astronomical connections. Some of the embankments reach 23 feet high, which is incredible considering they were built one basket of earth at a time. More than 67 gateways break up these embankments, inviting people to wander in and connect with their community.
One of the special areas at Fort Ancient is Morehead Circle, which is located near the museum. There is evidence that a woodhenge, or circular arrangement of wooden posts once existed there and that sacred ceremonies happened in this area.
Archaeology & Artifacts
Items made of materials sourced from areas as far away as the Rocky Mountains help paint a picture of the importance of Fort Ancient as a gathering place. Once thought of as evidence of trade is now thought to be evidence of pilgrimage—that people from all over the continent brought items from home as an offering in the ceremonies they attended here. Most of the artifacts recovered from Fort Ancient are in curated collections at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus. These include bone implements, stone tools, pottery fragments, and pieces of flint and mica.
The Museum at Fort Ancient offers 9,000 sq ft of exhibitions, which are free for Ohio History Connection members, and included with regular admission. The Museum is fully accessible and includes a classroom with information about today’s American Indian Tribes, which connects to the seasonal garden that showcases crops that were cultivated during the Hopewell and Fort Ancient cultures.
Must See at Fort Ancient
Photo by: John Hancock
Photo by: Ohio History Connection
Photo by: John Hancock
Photo by: John Hancock
Photo by: Ohio History Connection
Photo by: John Hancock
Photo by: Ohio History Connection
Witness Ancient Brilliance
The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, span several locations in Ohio. Each earthwork has its own marvels and wisdom to reveal, and is worthy of witnessing firsthand.
