The Mound City Group is about 3 miles north of Chillicothe on SR 104. This 120-acre tract with a 13-acre earth wall enclosure preserves at least 23 prehistoric burial mounds that lie within a low embankment. Native Americans of the Hopewell Culture, who inhabited the area about 2,000 years ago, were noted for their artistry and their practice of building enormous geometric earthworks as ceremonial sites. These artisans fashioned ornaments from materials foreign to Ohio.
The Mound City Group visitor center contains exhibits and public facilities, including an auditorium with a 21-minute orientation film and recorded description about the history of the site. Marked trails and trailside exhibits also can be found. Pets must remain on a leash.
Seip Earthworks, about 2 mi. e. of Bainbridge on US 50. is a 10-acre site containing the great central mound (240 ft. long, 160 ft. wide and 30 ft. high) of a group of geometric earthworks built by the Hopewell Indians for ceremonial purposes. A trail and wayside exhibits help visitors understand the park.
Allow 1 hour minimum. The Hopewell Mound Group, Mound City Group and Seip Earthworks are open daily dawn-dusk. High Bank and Hopeton earthworks are only open during special events. Mound City Group visitor center open daily 8:30-5 (also 5-6, Memorial Day-Labor Day); closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Free. Phone (740) 774-1126.