April 16th and April 17th, 2023 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.
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.
On April 16th Newark Earthworks Center Director Dr. John Low will be giving a tour at 2:30 p.m. at the Octagon State Memorial, and at the Great Circle at 4 p.m.
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.
Activities will be held at the Great Circle and Octagon. See below for times.
Information Tables • Noon–4 p.m.
Whether you’re waiting for or resting from your Octagon Earthworks guided tour, there is still a lot to learn about. Visit one of the information tables hosted by the Ohio History Connection and others.
Guided Octagon Earthworks Tour • 12:30, 2:00 & 3:00 p.m.
Join Ohio History Connection archaeologists and World Heritage staff Brad Lepper or Jennifer Aultman as they walk with guests through the circle and octagon earthen walls that make up the impressive Octagon Earthworks. Stops along the way will point out specific features including Observatory Mound and the many openings in the earthworks that are key to the 18.6-year lunar alignment encoded into the landscape.
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