Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site 1st Anniversary events

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks was inscribed Ohio’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site on September 19, 2023.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park; The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

World Heritage inscription brings recognition to places of exceptional interest and value. These sites serve to honor and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

There are only about 1,000 World Heritage Sites around the globe, and the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are just the 25th World Heritage Listing in the U.S.

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Sites

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is the collective name for eight works of monumental landscape architecture built by Native Americans 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.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park; The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve
6123 State Route 350 in Oregonia

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
16062 State Route 104 in Chillicothe

The Newark Earthworks: Great Circle Earthworks and Octagon Earthworks
Great Circle Earthworks, 455 Hebron Road in Heath, and the Octagon Earthworks, 125 N. 33rd St. in Newark

Great Circle Earthworks; The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

1st Anniversary of the Hopewell UNESCO World Heritage Site designation

The Ohio History Connection and the National Park Service celebrates the first anniversary of the Earthworks being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at events on September 19-21, 2024.

Free Events Across Three Counties

On September 19, ceremonies will take place at several Hopewell sites, with free admission to all events:

Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve (Oregonia): Starting at 3 p.m., the celebration will feature a plaque-unveiling, guided tours, and activities. The observance at Fort Ancient will continue for the next two days with a guided site tour at 1 p.m. Sept. 20 and an Ancient Wooden Architecture Presentation at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 21.

Great Circle Earthworks (Heath): A ceremony with speakers and a plaque unveiling will occur from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interpretive and educational programs planned after the ceremony include guided tours of the Great Circle at 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m., a Remnants Walking Tour from 1 to 4 p.m. and demonstrations of atlatl throwing and earthwork building through 4 p.m.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (Chillicothe): The event kicks off at 3 p.m. with a Ranger-led tour, followed by Junior Ranger hands-on activities at the visitor center at 4 p.m., and a special screening of the extended version of the interpretive film “Mysteries of the Ancient Architects” followed by a staff Q&A at 6 p.m. Activities will end at 8 p.m.

These events offer a chance to explore and celebrate Ohio’s ancient history and its global significance as part of the World Heritage community.

No registration required. Events are open to the public. For more details, visit hopewellearthworks.org.

Great Circle Earthworks; The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

About Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks

Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is the collective name for eight monumental sites built by Native Americans between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago in what is now the state of Ohio.

Five of the earthworks sites are managed by the National Park Service; three are managed by the Ohio History Connection.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List in January 2022 by the U.S. Department of the Interior and were inscribed by the 21 countries on the World Heritage Committee on Sept. 19 during a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

For more information about the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, go to hopewellearthworks.org.