When it comes to preserving the cultural history of the world, there’s one voice that speaks above the rest – UNESCO. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization designates places of importance to cultural or natural heritage, and dedicates resources to preserving their integrity. This is a high honor, usually for places that have been around for centuries or more. Many are instantly recognizable, while others benefit greatly from the added attention provided by this organization. There are 42 new sites that have just been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, and only one of them is in the United States. This honor goes to the very first World Heritage Site in Ohio: the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. This site is full of remnants of the Hopewell culture, a pre-contact Native American culture from the first millennium CE. They built some of the most impressive Earthworks ever found in the United States, and these mounds, forts, and other fascinating artifacts are being preserved and restored so that future generations can learn from this early American civilization.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks have been one of the areas most significant cultural and historical areas for years, and now the world has taken notice.
John Mackenzie Burke/Wikipedia
This historical park is a sprawling area - actually covering three areas. They are the Newark Earthworks, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, and Fort Ancient.
NPS.Gov
Over the decades, researchers have carefully mapped the areas and created a picture of the ancient cultures that lived, built, and traded here.
Public Domain/Wikipedia
The most dramatic remnant left by the Hopewell culture is the earthworks - significant mounds that served as cultural landmarks, forts, and burial sites.
Ɱ/Wikipedia
The most dramatic structure built by the Hopewell is the Great Circle Earthworks, a massive 1,200 foot circular moat.
Ericplayzbass/Wikipedia
One of the largest circular earthworks in the United States, it's located in the Newark Earthworks and is a staggering achievement still standing today.
A21sauce/Wikipedia
This new designation as a World Heritage Site puts the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in storied company - it's now one of only 25 sites in the United States to qualify.
Brocken Inaglory/Wikipedia
These include such iconic locations as the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, Independence Hall, Mammoth Cave, and Yellowstone and its famous geysers.

Have you been to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Chillicothe, Ohio? Let us know about your experiences at what is now the very first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ohio in the comments section! You can find out more about this announcement and what it means for the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks from the official press release from the National Parks Service. For a closer look into Ohio’s most famous earthworks, check out our past coverage by April Dray from last year. If you want to spend more than one day exploring this fascinating site, check into the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Chillicothe.

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Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, 16062 OH-104, Chillicothe, OH 45601, USA