Historic Octagon Earthworks in Newark now open to the public

NEWARK, Ohio (WCMH) — For the first time in more than a century, the Octagon Earthworks in Newark, part of Ohio’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site, is fully accessible to the public.

The Ohio History Connection recently announced that visitors can now enter and explore the landscape. Located at 125 N. 33rd St. in Newark, the area features mounds of earth constructed in geometric shapes by Native Americans between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, according to the history organization.

The opening is pivotal for the area, after the nonprofit's long legal struggle with the Moundbuilders Country Club, which leased the land for a golf course. Negotiations between the Ohio History Connection and Moundbuilders Country Club began in 2013 but reached an impasse, leading to a 2018 court case. In 2019, a Licking County Common Pleas Court ruled in favor of the Ohio History Connection, granting it the authority to acquire the land through eminent domain. After a series of appeals and delays, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 2022. The two parties finalized their settlement in August, bringing more than a decade of negotiations to a close.

“Jan. 1 is the start of a new year, and it’s also the beginning of a new era for the Octagon Earthworks,” said Ohio History Connection Executive Director and CEO Megan Wood.

The site is a key component of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which includes eight locations across Ohio recognized for their unparalleled scale, geometric precision, and astronomical alignments. Every 18.6 years, the moon rises directly through a passageway at the Octagon, which the Ohio History Connection said is “a testament to the genius, cooperation and devotion of the American Indian peoples who created them.”

The organization noted that the site is now open daily to visitors during daylight hours, and employees will be at the visitor center during posted hours.