Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in Ohio.

In the park service’s words

Nearly 2000 years ago, Native Americans built dozens of monumental mounds and earthen enclosures in southern Ohio. These earthwork complexes were ceremonial landscapes used for feasts, funerals, rituals, and rites of passage associated with a Native American religious movement that swept over half the continent for almost 400 years. Come walk among the earthworks and experience the past.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Mysteries of the Ancient Architects Film (19 Minutes): Another popular choice for visitors is the highly-recommended park orientation film. Mysteries of the Ancient Architects gives viewers an overview of these American Indians and their incredible accomplishments from over 2,000 years ago. Whether your knowledge of this culture is novice or expert, this film will leave yo
• Junior Ranger Program at Hopewell Culture NHP (30 to 120 Minutes): The park's Junior Ranger program is a free program to visitors of all ages. Simply visit or call the park and ask a ranger for your booklet so you can get started. Once you finish the required number of pages, take your booklet to a ranger and get ready to be sworn in as one of the park's newest Junior Rangers!
• Hiking & Exploring Mound City Group (20 to 180 Minutes): Visit the reconstructed earthwork site of the Hopewell culture which dates back to over 2,000 years ago. Walk amongst the mounds and reflect upon the culture's workmanship and ponder about life during a simpler time.
• Hiking & Exploring Hopeton Earthworks (60 to 180 Minutes): Explore the Hopeton Earthworks site and take in the engineering marvel that these incredible Native Americans accomplished over 2,000 years ago. Visitors will also enjoy the nature that will envelope them during their hike around the complex.
• Hiking & Exploring Seip Earthworks (30 to 180 Minutes): Seip Earthworks is a marvel of geometric grandeur that was constructed by the Hopewell culture over 2,000 years ago. Today, visitors can take in the magnitude of the site's scale and the Hopewell accomplishments as you can hike in and around the complex to experience what it may have been like to be part of such an ama
• Hiking & Exploring Hopewell Mound Group (45 to 180 Minutes): The home to the largest Hopewell mound ever constructed and the type-site of the Hopewell culture, Hopewell Mound Group offers visitors a glimpse into the past by showcasing the vastness and size of what these ancient people accomplished. Visitors can learn about the past while enjoying limited recreational opportuniti

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. The park grounds at Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Hopeton Earthworks and Seip Earthworks are open every day of the year, during daylight hours. All park grounds officially close at sunset and re-open at sunrise.

Getting there

Take U.S. 23. Exit U.S. 23 at State Route 207 and turn right. Continue on S.R. 207 for 2 miles until it merges with S.R. 104 (Make no turns, continue straight on road as it turns into S.R. 104). Follow S.R. 104, turn left into park (approximately 1.8 miles past the S.R. 104 & S.R. 207 intersection), follow entrance road to visitor center.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Mound City Group Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM. The Mound City Group visitor center is the park's only visitor center building. These are the normal hours of operation. The visitor center is open daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Weather

The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 30 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 75 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just under 38". Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of less than 24".

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is New River Gorge, about 138 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.