In June Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine toured the newest state park in Ohio, Great Council State Park. The Park officially opened on June 7. Great Council State Park is the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s 76th state park and celebrates Ohio’s Shawnee and pioneer past.
Great Council State Park is located in Xenia on the site of the Shawnee Village of Old Chillicothe. The park features a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center modeled after a historic Shawnee longhouse.
The longhouse includes hands-on historic displays and gallery spaces showcasing the artistry and heritage of the region’s vibrant cultures and modern Shawnee life. There is a theater space to become immersed in a short film that illuminates the history of the Great Council from the unique perspective of modern Shawnee.
RELATED: National Museum of the Great Lakes: The Second Wave TikTok
There is also a living stream for guests to get their hands wet and learn about how Shawnee people used Ohio’s waterways. Guests can end their visit with the gift shop to take home a piece of history like historical books and maps.
Along with the Interpretive Center, there are a few trails for guests to enjoy the restored prairie full of native plants and a view of the Little Miami River. The Interpretive Center and gift shop are open Wednesday through Sunday with hours varying.
“Fran and I are so pleased to see Great Council State Park open so that Ohioans can learn more about the history of this special place in Greene County,” Governor DeWine said.
For more information about the park visit ohiodnr.gov.
