Ohio’s 76th state park is just weeks away from welcoming visitors. Great Council State Park, just north of Xenia, was once known as Oldtown, one of the largest-known Shawnee settlements in the region. More than 400 families and more than 1,000 people called Oldtown home from approximately 1777 to 1780. Their stories directly intersect with those of individuals like Daniel Boone, who was held captive in Oldtown for a period.
The Oklahoma Department of Natural Resources and Ohio History Connection have been working with the three federally recognized Shawnee Tribes to develop the property, which ODNR intends to be a connection to Ohio’s Native American and pioneer past.
“Bringing history to life is a challenge enthusiastically accepted by ODNR staff,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “Once complete, this center will offer a unique glimpse into the past, a different way for children and adults alike to learn more about the people who used to call this part of Ohio home.”
The park will feature a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center with an architectural design based on the traditional council house form historically used by Shawnees. Inside the interpretive center, visitors will find three floors of exhibits, a theater area, a living stream, and a gallery.
“This project gives us the unique opportunity to connect future generations with the past, while protecting the legacy of the Shawnee and inviting them to share their story,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for June.
Watch progress at the site to date documented through a timelapse video.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and support for survivors. Sexual violence can happen anywhere, in any community, and affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, including Native American communities, who are disproportionately impacted. Sexual violence means any unwanted sexual contact or behavior without consent. This can include rape, […]
Plastic production has grown rapidly over the past 60 years, creating an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic—most of it used in disposable products that quickly become trash. Of that total, about 6.3 billion metric tons has already become waste. Despite widespread recycling eaorts, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled. Around […]
By A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack On September 7, 1816, readers skimming the Niles’ Weekly Register might have noticed a story about two groups of Shawnee men visiting central Kentucky. It appears on a page with a variety of national and international news: an accounting of how many immigrants had arrived in America, details […]
On November 15, Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Manager, Cindy Riley, participated in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s recycling event to explore new ways of collecting and processing materials—from electronics and batteries to tires, and many more items—and to bring those best practices back to our own tribal community. Key takeaways: Next steps: Together, we can grow our […]
Button cell batteries are the small, flat, round batteries found in watches, hearing aids, key fobs, calculators, toys, and medical devices. They may be tiny, but they contain valuable materials and can create safety hazards if thrown in the trash. Because they are so small, button batteries are often tossed with household waste. However, lithium […]
On October 22, 2025, the Shawnee Tribe was notified that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would pause operations during the month of November due to a protracted government shutdown. In response, the Shawnee Tribe developed the Temporary Emergency Food Benefit Assistance Program, which was established by October 29, 2025, to support Shawnee Tribe families […]
Meet Magdalene “Mag” Walls, a proud Shawnee citizen born on February 25, 1921, in Ramona, Oklahoma. Her early years were spent in Ramona before her family moved to White Oak, where Mag attended grade school and met her first husband. Together, they had two wonderful children, Deloris and Jim. In 1942, Mag embarked on a […]
On Monday December 8, the new Chief Ron Sparkman Shawnee Tribe Council Chambers, located at 29 S. Main Street, held its naming, dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The newly designed interiors included the main tribal chambers, private tribal chambers, kitchen and prep space, restrooms, and a private meeting space all adorned with modern flooring, walls, lighting, […]