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"They engineered the position of the walls with reference to the most secure places with admirable skill. Think of thousands of
men and women toiling on the brow of this high hill with wicker
baskets, skins, etc., piling up such an enormous earthwork by
mere strength of hand and back. They had no shovels, no picks,
no barrows; in fact, no tools at all, such as we use."
--Warren K. Moorehead 1890
Fort Ancient features 18,000 feet of earthen walls built 2,000 years ago
by American Indians who used the shoulder blades of deer, split elk antler,
clam shell hoes and digging sticks to dig the dirt. They then carried
the soil in baskets holding 35 to 40 pounds. Portions of these walls were
used in conjunction with the sun and moon to provide a calendar system
for these peoples.
The site offers beautiful vistas along hiking trails as well as the remains of the prehistoric mounds for visitors to see. Convenient picnic areas can be found along the road at the site.
The Museum at Fort Ancient contains 9000 sq. ft. of exhibits, including many
interactive units, focusing on 15,000 years of American Indian history
in the Ohio Valley. The Museum also contains a classroom, a research area,
and a sales shop with many fine American Indian items.
Hours: April – October
| Monday |
CLOSED |
| Tuesday |
CLOSED |
| Wednesday-Saturday |
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday |
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Open Holidays
(Memorial Day, Easter, July 4, Labor Day) |
12:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Closed Holidays
(New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Monday holidays unless specified) |
CLOSED |
Hours: November- March Please note that Fort Ancient is closed during the winter months. If you would like to schedule to visit during the closed season, please call to make an appointment
Admission
| OHS Members |
FREE |
| Adults |
$8.00 (museum & park) |
| Children 6 - 12 |
$4.00 |
| Children 5 & under |
FREE |
| Park Only |
$8.00 |
| School Groups |
$3.00 per student + $1 program fee |
| Season Pass |
$25.00 |
| Commercial Motor Coach Parking |
$70.00 for coaches not using the museum |
AAA and senior discounts given. Military discounts are available to all active military and their dependents.
Group Tours:
Museum tour
Tours for groups of 20 or more are available on a year round basis and can be fitted to the needs of the organization booking the tour. A normal walking tour through the museum is about 45 minutes in length and covers the 9,000 sq ft exhibit area. An additional 15 minutes is required to walk through the reconstructed garden (seasonal). The tour guide will discuss the three major technological themes of the Ohio Valley: The First Ohioans, Tillers of the Soil, and When Worlds Collide. Given the availability of the garden, a brief walk will include a discussion of crops that were grown 2,000 and 1,000 years ago. An additional 15 minutes will be provided for people to browse through the gift shop.
Site Tour
For groups who have a motor coach, a guide will step on the coach for an additional 45 minute tour. It will start at the museum and continue south to the southern end of the site. As the motor coach is being driven through the site, people will listen to a discussion of the site; who built it, how it was built, and why it was constructed. Special attention will be given to the astronomical alignments at the site and the new discoveries uncovered over the last 2 years of excavations at what is being called the Moorehead Circle, a 200 foot diameter circle made from wooden posts. At the southern end of the site guests will have the opportunity to walk approximately 200 feet to the North Overlook where one can view approximately 3.5 miles of the Little Miami River Valley.
For groups who do not have a motorcoach, individual vehicles will be driven to specific locations of the site where guests will get out of their vehicles for brief discussions. The locations or points of interest will be: immediately in front of the museum to illustrate the astronomical alignments, near the recent excavations of the Moorehead Circle, the Crescent mounds, and the North overlook. The items that will be discussed will be identical to the things talked about on a motor coach tour
The total group tour time recommended is approximately 2 hours. If a group requires less time, changes in the tour will be required.
Location
Fort Ancient is seven miles southeast of Lebanon, in Warren County, on State Route 350. Exit I-71 at Wilmington Road (exit 36) and take Middleboro Road south to State Route 350, turn right to the park.
General Information
Fort Ancient
6123 St Rt. 350
Oregonia, Ohio 45054
Phone:
513-932-4421
1-800-283-8904 (toll free)
Site Manager:
J. Blosser
Handicapped Accessibility
Ohio Historical Society strives to meet ADA requirements. However, historic structures and outdoor areas provide challenges that make it difficult to provide complete access to all visitors. Please call the site with specific questions and concerns.
The site is paved for three quarters of a mile.
The North Overlook and outdoor facilities are not handicapped accessible.
The new museum is handicapped accessible with handicapped accessible facilities.
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