Newark Earthworks Open House, April 10 -11, 2022

During the Newark Earthworks Open House, visitors are invited to explore and experience fully all three segments of these ancient, expansive earthworks built masterfully by American Indians.  The site will be open daylight to dusk, with staff on site to answer questions from Noon–4 p.m. There is no registration or reservations needed for tours.

Octagon Earthworks is part of Newark Earthworks, remnants of a 2,000 year-old complex that is the largest set of geometric earthworks ever known. Enclosing 50 acres, the Octagon Earthworks has eight walls, each measuring about 550 feet long and from five to six feet in height.

Great Circle Earthworks is nearly 1,200 feet in diameter and was likely used as a vast ceremonial center by its builders. The 8 feet (2.4 m) high walls surround a 5 feet (1.5 m) deep moat, except at the entrance where the dimensions are even greater and more impressive.

Wright Earthworks consists of a fragment of a geometrically near-perfect square enclosure and part of one wall that origianlly formed a set of parallel embankments, which led from the square to a large oval enclosure. Originally, the sides of the Newark square ranged from 940 to 950 feet in length, and they enclose a total area of about 20 acres.

The Newark Earthworks served social, ceremonial and astronomical functions for their builders, people of the Hopewell Culture. The site is a National Historic Landmark and Ohio’s official prehistoric monument.

The site will be open daylight to dusk. Staff will be on hand at the Octagon and Great Circle from noon to 4 p.m. to answer questions. Please practice social distancing throughout or wear a mask if you cannot or when in the museum at the Great Circle..

Guided tours of the Octagon Earthworks are scheduled for 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Please meet at the large map by the parking lot.

Participating sites

• Great Circle – 455 Hebron Rd., Heath, OH
• Octagon Earthworks–125 N. 33rd St., Newark, OH
• Wright Earthworks – North of Grant St. on James, parallel to State Route 79 in Newark