Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
LOCATION
16062 State Route 104
Chillicothe, OH 45601
The Visitor Center for Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is located at the Mound City Group archeological site. There are no other visitor centers or visitor contact stations. This should be the first stop you make when visiting the park.
There are no parking spaces for RVs. If you have an RV or other oversize vehicle, park on the shoulder of the driveway or around the flag pole.
OPERATING HOURS
The Mound City Group Visitor Center is typically open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM, with extended hours in June and July. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Keep in mind that times can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.
AMENITIES
- Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
- Museum
- Park orientation film
- Meeting place for Ranger-guided tours of Mound City
- Book and souvenir store
- Restrooms
PARK FILM
The 19-minute film Mysteries of the Ancient Architects shows on demand in the Mound City Group Visitor Center. This is a modern documentary that is suitable for all ages. The film should definitely be watched prior to exploring the archeological sites so that you have some idea about what you are looking at.
HOPEWELL CULTURE MUSEUM
Hopewell Culture Museum inside the Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
The museum at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is one of the few National Park Service museums with more artifacts than information panels that require reading. The exhibit area is full of arrowheads, pottery shards, hand-carved ornamental objects, jewelry, and other items found during excavations in the park. If you like looking at ancient goods, this is a great museum to visit.
Collection of artifacts in the Hopewell Culture Museum inside the Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Shell bead necklaces on display at the museum inside the Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Raven effigy pipe on display at the museum inside the Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Display case of artifacts at the museum inside the Mound City Group Visitor Center at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
There are a few informational exhibits about the Hopewell people as well as an interactive exhibit that covers the various units of the park—Mound City, Seip, Hopeton, Spruce Hill, High Bank, and the Hopewell Mound Group. Select whichever site interests you, and a short video about that site plays on a larger screen on the wall. There is a seating area.
Interactive exhibit on the different units of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park at the Mound City Group Visitor Center
SCHDULING YOUR TIME
For those who want to read through all the information in the museum and see the artifacts, it only takes about fifteen minutes. As I said, there isn’t much to read. I did not watch the videos on the individual park units, so I am not sure how long that will take. I do recommend watching Mysteries of the Ancient Architects, so that’s another 20 minutes. Overall, I don’t see spending much more than 30 to 45 minutes at the Mound City Group Visitor Center.
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Last updated on March 20, 2025
