Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

An early morning sun casting long shadows over grass-covered mounds.
Dawn at the Mound City Group as the sun casts long shadows over the grass.
A tan building with a red-peaked roof surrounded by green grass and tan sidewalks
The Mound City Group visitor center main entrance with Mound City Group in the background view
A green, grassy field with taller areas of uncut grass in geometric shapes under a partly cloudy sky
The overlook area of Hopeton Earthworks allowing visitors to view the interpretive mowing of the geometric shapes
An overlook area showing a green grassy field with a panel showing artwork and text
The main overlook area of Hopewell Mound Group showing the enormity of the site.
A grassy trail running between tall trees in a green field leads to a large grass-covered mound
A cut grass trail leading to the large Seip Mound at Seip Earthworks.
A tan-orange curved information desk with a man sitting behind the counter
The information desk inside of the Mound City Group visitor center.
Several children walking with a park ranger in a flat hat near grass-covered mounds.
A school field trip visiting the Mound City Group as a ranger leads them on a tour.
Several square pedestals hold books and other gifts in the middle of a carpeted floor
The bookstore inside of the Mound City Group visitor center.
An asphalt path with a steel handrail on the left with green vegetative slope to the right.
The paved river walk trail at the Mound City Group.
Photos: National Park Service

About Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, rituals, and rites of passage associated with a Native American religious movement that swept over half the continent for almost 400 years. Come walk among the earthworks and experience the past.

Quick Facts

State Ohio
Designation National Historical Park
State Code OH
Weather The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 30 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with…

Location & Map

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is located in Ohio.

Operating Hours

The following list represents the hours for the park grounds at Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Hopeton Earthworks and Seip Earthworks are open every day of the year, during daylight hours. All park grounds officially close at sunset and re-open at sunrise. For hours of operation of the park's visitor center, please proceed to the "Visitor Center" section. There you will find the normal hours of operation for the park's only visitor center at Mound City Group.

Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset
Monday Sunrise to Sunset
Thursday Sunrise to Sunset
Sunday Sunrise to Sunset
Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset
Friday Sunrise to Sunset
Saturday Sunrise to Sunset

Activities

Arts and Culture Biking Road Biking Food Dining Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Junior Ranger Program Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Take U.S. 23. Exit U.S. 23 at State Route 207 and turn right. Continue on S.R. 207 for 2 miles until it merges with S.R. 104 (Make no turns, continue straight on road as it turns into S.R. 104). Follow S.R. 104, turn left into park (approximately 1.8 miles past the S.R. 104 & S.R. 207 intersection), follow entrance road to visitor center.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe, OH, 45601
Phone 7407741125

Topics & Themes

Archeology Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite Native American Heritage Wars and Conflicts World War I Animals

Things To Do

Mysteries of the Ancient Architects Film

Mysteries of the Ancient Architects Film

Another popular choice for visitors is the highly-recommended park orientation film. Mysteries of the Ancient Architects gives viewers an overview…

This is the park's 19 minute, official orientation film. Filmed and produced by Camera One.

Junior Ranger Program at Hopewell Culture NHP

Junior Ranger Program at Hopewell Culture NHP

The park's Junior Ranger program is a free program to visitors of all ages. Simply visit or call the park…

Children will explore the visitor center and park grounds to find answers to the questions in the booklet with assistance…

Hiking & Exploring Mound City Group

Hiking & Exploring Mound City Group

Visit the reconstructed earthwork site of the Hopewell culture which dates back to over 2,000 years ago. Walk amongst the…

Most of the trails and grounds are flat and easy to navigate.  There is a descending and ascending part of…

Hiking & Exploring Hopeton Earthworks

Hiking & Exploring Hopeton Earthworks

Explore the Hopeton Earthworks site and take in the engineering marvel that these incredible Native Americans accomplished over 2,000 years…

Trails at Hopeton Earthworks are mulch, grass and gravel-covered.  Trail varies in elevation and there are sections that will require…

Hiking & Exploring Seip Earthworks

Hiking & Exploring Seip Earthworks

Seip Earthworks is a marvel of geometric grandeur that was constructed by the Hopewell culture over 2,000 years ago. Today,…

Enjoy an easy hike on the scenic nature trails of this prehistoric earthwork site.  While the earthwork walls were destroyed…

Hiking & Exploring Hopewell Mound Group

Hiking & Exploring Hopewell Mound Group

The home to the largest Hopewell mound ever constructed and the type-site of the Hopewell culture, Hopewell Mound Group offers…

While most of the 2.5 miles of trail are on flat, level ground, there are parts that require ascending in…

Visitor Centers

Mound City Group Visitor Center

The only visitor center among all open sites of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is at Mound City Group. Except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day…

Hours: The Mound City Group visitor center is the park's only visitor center building. These are the normal hours of operation. The visitor center is open daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

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