Ohio History Connection, Shawnees mark solstice at Serpent Mound

The Shawnee Tribe and the Ohio History Connection will celebrate summer solstice at Serpent Mound June 20-23. The historic site is located at 3850 state Route 73 in Peebles.

Serpent Mound is a National Historic Landmark built by early American Indian Nations of Ohio. The effigy mound in the form of a snake with a curved tail has become an icon of Indigenous cultural achievements, primarily because of its enormous scale.

Serpent Mound’s American Indian builders likely created the mound in alignment with the sun’s cycle. To mark the June 20 summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the Shawnee Tribe and the Ohio History Connection are partnering to showcase the significance of Serpent Mound as a sacred American Indian site.

“Because of the age, location, and the important symbolism of serpents to the Shawnee, we feel a close kinship to this place,” said Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe. ”There’s a lot of evidence that indicates our ancestors may well have built the serpent. And it’s not just evidence in Ohio. It’s evidence throughout the region, even southward into Kentucky and West Virginia. As well as evidence from our religious and ceremonial traditions that we still practice today in Oklahoma.”

“So the reason we want to be present at Serpent Mound is to dismantle bad stereotypes and racist ideas, those things that help perpetuate the notion of manifest destiny as if it were a good thing. The people that built Serpent Mound did so with careful intention. They were built because it had sacred meaning to their community, our Shawnee ancestors,” said Barnes.

“As the caretakers of Serpent Mound, we are honored to have the Shawnee Tribe join us once again for this event,” said Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection.

“Having our tribal partners here is vital to our commitment of sharing the authentic history of this sacred place. This collaborative observance of the summer solstice will continue to be part of our sharing the history of ancient Ohio and, specifically, Serpent Mound,” said Wood.

Schedule

•  The Serpent Mound site will be open 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The visitor center/gift shop will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 20 on the summer solstice.
• Shawnee Tribe will have guest speakers 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Thursday, June 20. Guided site tours occur 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. (at sunset).
• The site will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, June 21. Shawnee Tribe will have guest speakers 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Guided site tours occur 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• The site will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 22.
• The site will be open noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 23.

The Serpent Mound observation tower remains closed. A renovation project is currently in the planning phase.

Parking at Serpent Mound is $10 on June 20 and $8 on June 21-23. For more information, visit ohiohistory.org….

About the Ohio History Connection: The Ohio History Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885. For more information, visit ohiohistory.org….

About the Shawnee Tribe: The Shawnee Tribe is a sovereign nation of more than 4,000 citizens living across North America and abroad. Tribal headquarters are located in Miami, Okla. For more information, visit shawnee-nsn.gov….