Taking a trip to the Pyramid of Giza or the Great Wall of China is likely out of the realm of capabilities for a lot of Ohioans. However, another culturally rich site is only a day trip away from Toledo.
Last fall, the state of Ohio welcomed its first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks joined a lengthy list of nearly 1,200 sites located across the world.
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a collection of eight large scale earthworks in Ohio that were originally built by American Indian communities over 1,000 years ago.
All eight earthworks are spread across Newark, Chillicothe and Oregonia. Each site reveals its own story and its own unique value to American Indian Heritage.
Artifacts found at these sites have been made from materials only found in places like the Gulf of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains and Appalachia.
These sites range from burial mounds to ceremonial spaces and more. These monumental spaces are filled with creativity and history that can add to a trip across the state of Ohio.
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Last month, in honor of World Heritage Day, these sites were redesigned into the new Licking Country I-70 westbound rest area to inform travelers about these internationally recognized treasures.
However, The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks sites are mostly open to the public to walk, learn and explore.
Accessibility, entrance fees and indoor facilities vary from site to site.
To start planning your trip or for more information, visit hopewellearthworks.org/plan-your-visit.
