CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ohio History Connection and the National Park Service will celebrate Ohio World Heritage Week from April 11 through 18 with special events at the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is April 18.
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is the collective name for eight works of monumental landscape architecture built by American Indians between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago in central and southern Ohio. Five of the earthworks sites are managed by the National Park Service, and three are managed by the Ohio History Connection.
The National Park Service’s five locations are at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in and around Chillicothe. The Ohio History Connection’s locations are in Heath, Newark, and Oregonia.
“Every World Heritage Day is an opportunity to recognize the local, national, and international significance of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks,” said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “During World Heritage Week, we are pleased to showcase these masterpieces of ancient landscape architecture built by American Indians.”
The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sept. 19, 2023, by the 21 countries on the World Heritage Committee during a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There are more than 1,200 World Heritage Sites around the globe, and the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is the 25th of 26 World Heritage listings in the United States.
Schedule of events:
Saturday, April 11
Great Circle Earthworks, 455 Hebron Road, Heath: 11 a.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia: 1-4 p.m. Turtle Shell Rattle Workshop. $55 per kit.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 2 p.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Sunday, April 12
Great Circle Earthworks, 455 Hebron Road, Heath: 11 a.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 2 p.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14
No activities scheduled. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe and the Great Circle or Octagon at the Newark Earthworks are open for visits.
Wednesday, April 15
Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon screenings of WOSU’s “Hopewell Earthworks: Stories Written on the Land” in the auditorium. Free, registration required.
Great Circle Earthworks, 455 Hebron Road, Heath: 11 a.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 2 p.m. guided tour. $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children 5 and under.
Thursday, April 16
Seip Earthworks, 7058 U.S. Highway 50, Bainbridge: 10 a.m. guided tour. Free.
Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia: 1 p.m. archaeological tour. Site admission required: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 6-17, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children under 6.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 6 p.m. reception for “Monuments of the Ohio Valley” exhibit from The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture. Free. 7-8 p.m. Newark Earthworks Lecture Series program featuring Beth Blostein and Jake Boswell of The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture and Justin Parscher of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. General admission is $10 and free for Ohio History Connection members and students with proof of student ID. No registration required.
Friday, April 17
Mound City Group, 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe: 10 a.m. guided tour. Free.
Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia: 1 p.m. archaeological tour. Site admission required: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 6-17, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children under 6.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 2 p.m. monthly Third Friday Tour with Dr. Brad Lepper. Free.
Saturday, April 18
Great Circle Earthworks, 455 Hebron Road, Heath: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. World Heritage Day Open House. Free. Drop-in activities all day, with guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and community partner tables.
Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St., Newark: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. World Heritage Day Open House. Free. Drop-in activities all day, with guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and community partner tables. Food trucks on site.
High Bank Works: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. special event. Join Hopewell Culture National Historical Park rangers for this rare opportunity to discover the lunar and solar alignments of High Bank Works, which is open to the public only for special events. Free, registration required. To register, call Hopewell Culture National Historical Park at 740-774-1126. For ages 12 and older. Parking is limited, walking on uneven terrain is required, and no restroom facilities will be available. Call for parking location details.
Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia: 1 p.m. archaeological tour. Site admission required: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 6-17, and free for Ohio History Connection members and children under 6.