Sites with Native American-Indian History in Ohio

Serpent Mound and More Native American Sites in Ohio

Ohio is a state that is filled with unique Native American (Indian) heritage sites ranging from the well known, such as Serpent Mound, to the less well known. According to the Ohio Historical Society, Native Americans have lived in Ohio since 15,000 BC. Ohio offers a wide variety of terrain from plains to woods that would have offered early people a variety of resources. In addition to the land, Ohio's locality along the Ohio River and Lake Erie also would have added reason for Native Americans to have utilized Ohio as a hunting area and as a location for permanent settlement.

If you are only able to visit one Native American location in Ohio, it should be Serpent Mound. Serpent Mound is a large earthen sculpture of a snake. The mound is well over 100 feet long and varies in height but I estimate averages 3 or 4 feet. The mound is open to the public for a small fee that is used to maintain the grounds of the mound. The area is well kept, with a paved walking track encircling the mound and nicely mowed grass in the entire area. The Serpent Mound site also offers a tower that visitors can climb to experience the mound from a higher elevation where its shape and immense size can truly be appreciated. Serpent Mound is located off of Route 73 in Adams County and is well mark from area Highways. Other mounds are located throughout the state.

A smaller, lesser known site that I first visited as a child, and that I still am fascinated by is the Leo Petroglyph. The Leo Petroglyph is an exposed sandstone rock where Native Americans carved various shapes. The Leo Petroglyph exhibits drawings of birds and animals as well as footprints. The Leo Petroglyph is northwest of Jackson, Ohio, from Route 35. Take County Road 28 from Route 35, then Township Road 224. A related site, Inscription Rock, is located on Kelley's Island (Lake Erie).