Chillicothe offers several ways to explore history: Hopewell earthworks, exhibits about the city and region, and experiences that tell stories in other ways. Mound City Group is the only fully restored Hopewell earthwork complex and is also home to the only visitor center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Other offerings range from a self-guided educational trail to holographic animal displays and a historical drama. Together, these present distinct areas of interest: archaeological sites, local and regional history, and visual or dramatic presentations.
Hopewell Earthworks: Tour and Trail
Story Mound is an earth mound in Chillicothe listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rangers lead visitors on tours of the Mound City Group earthworks; a tour lasts about an hour. By contrast, Hopewell Mound Group offers a two-mile self-guided educational trail. These experiences therefore differ both in how they are presented and in the information available for planning: one is a ranger-led tour with an approximate duration, the other a trail whose length is given in miles. These are not two comparable time estimates for your planning. A trail length of two miles does not indicate how long the walk will take.
City and Regional History
The Ross County Heritage Center offers exhibits about how and why Chillicothe became Ohio’s first capital, the prehistoric cultures of the Scioto River Valley, Camp Sherman and World War I, as well as historic vehicles and transportation. The topics range from prehistoric cultures to political history, military history, and mobility. Unlike individual earthwork sites, the Center brings together several perspectives on the region’s past. If you don’t want to focus solely on archaeology, the exhibits offer other points of connection to city and regional history.
Holographic Worlds and Stories
The First Capital Hologram Zoo presents Australia, the age of the dinosaurs, and the deep sea, featuring more than 50 life-size holographic animals. The three themed worlds give the animal displays different settings; this presentation differs markedly from the historical exhibits and earthworks. The Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama portrays the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader who tries to defend his sacred homelands. Here, a single, continuous dramatic story takes center stage. This makes a difference when choosing a subject of interest: the holographic animal displays take visitors through different themed worlds, while the drama tells a single life story.
Landscape and Architecture Nearby
Another historical trace can be found in Yoctangee Park: the lake there was once a canal of the Scioto River. The focus here is the former relationship between the lake and the river, offering a different perspective on the area’s history than the exhibits or earthworks. Nearby, Adena Mansion & Gardens is a National Historic Landmark. The estate was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, America’s first architect. This adds an architectural-history perspective nearby to the story of Chillicothe.
Discover more destinations: Londonderry.
Return to the broader travel overview: Ross County.
