Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month at One of Ohio’s Many Sites
Serpent Mound. Photo Credit ODNR
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, TourismOhio has released its list of Ohio’s extraordinary Native American Heritage sites, offering visitors a chance to connect with history and culture in immersive ways.
“Ohio’s Native American sites are invaluable to our state’s history,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Standing where the first Ohioans once stood and seeing the monumental sites they created is a powerful experience and a testament to Ohio’s commitment to preserving and honoring this legacy.”
First designated in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, National Native American Heritage Month is an annual celebration and recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.
“We invite visitors from around the globe to explore Ohio and experience our remarkable historical and cultural sites in person,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, which oversees ToursimOhio. “Landmarks like the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are a powerful representation of our state’s history and significance.”
Early Native American people of the Adena, Hopewell, and Fort Ancient cultures are primarily responsible for many of the large mounds, earthen burial structures, and complex earthworks found throughout Ohio and highlighted on TourismOhio’s list.
In 2023, Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—joining global treasures like Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China. These sites are the first in Ohio to receive this distinguished recognition and only the 25th in the United States.
“You won’t find anything like the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks anywhere else in the world,” said Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “We and our partners at the National Park Service are always pleased to share these sites with Ohioans, Americans and the world. We also are pleased to share with visitors our other Native American Heritage sites, including Serpent Mound in Peebles.”
