2016 Scenic Ohio Award
The 2016 Scenic Ohio awards recognized groups and organizations that are working to preserve Ohio’s World Heritage nominated sites.
Built by ancient American Indians, Ohio’s earthworks are a wonder of the Ancient World. These Ohio treasures are poised to join such cultural icons as the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge and the Acropolis as World Heritage Sites through the nomination process of UNESCO -- the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO’s World Heritage Program was established to recognize and encourage the protection of the world’s most important cultural and natural treasures. Over 1,000 sites have been inscribed, with only 23 of them in the United States.
The 2016 Scenic Ohio Awards honor six organizations that manage, preserve and conserve Ohio’s archaeological sites nominated for World Heritage Inscription. These sites are ancient Native American Earthworks, natural and cultural resources that are unique to Ohio. The sites include the Newark Earthworks, Great Serpent Mound, Fort Ancient and Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks.
The Awards event guest speakers were: Glenna J. Wallace, Chief, Eastern Shawnee Tribe (Oklahoma) and Kerry Holton, President, Delaware Nation (Oklahoma). These tribal leaders gave their perspective on the importance of Ohio’s Ancient Earthworks and the American Indian cultural heritage.