PEEBLES, Ohio – The Shawnee Tribe and the Ohio History Connection are preparing to celebrate Summer Solstice at Serpent Mound from June 20-23.

Serpent Mound, 3850 state Route 73 in Peebles, is a National Historic Landmark built by early American Indian Nations of Ohio. The effigy mound in the form of a snake with a curved tail has become an icon of Indigenous cultural achievements, primarily because of its enormous scale.

Serpent Mound’s American Indian builders likely created the mound in alignment with the sun’s cycle. To mark the June 20 summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the Shawnee Tribe and the Ohio History Connection are partnering to showcase the significance of Serpent Mound as a sacred American Indian site.

“Because of the age, location, and the important symbolism of serpents to the Shawnee, we feel a close kinship to this place,” said Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe. “There’s a lot of evidence that indicates our ancestors may well have built the serpent. And it’s not just evidence in Ohio. It’s evidence throughout the region, even southward into Kentucky and West Virginia. As well as evidence from our religious and ceremonial traditions that we still practice today in Oklahoma. So the reason we want to be present at Serpent Mound is to dismantle bad stereotypes and racist ideas, those things that help perpetuate the notion of manifest destiny as if it were a good thing. The people that built Serpent Mound did so with careful intention. They were built because it had sacred meaning to their community, our Shawnee ancestors.”

“As the caretakers of Serpent Mound, we are honored to have the Shawnee Tribe join us once again for this event,” said Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. “Having our Tribal Partners here is vital to our commitment of sharing the authentic history of this sacred place. This collaborative observance of the summer solstice will continue to be part of our sharing the history of ancient Ohio and, specifically, Serpent Mound.”

On the Summer Solstice, Thursday, June 20, the Serpent Mound site will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the visitor center/gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Special programming on June 20 includes Shawnee Tribe guest speakers at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; guided site tours at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; and the sunset at 9 p.m.

On Friday, June 21, the site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special programming will include Shawnee Tribe guest speakers at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and guided site tours at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

On Saturday, June 22, the site will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday, June 23, the site will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Please note that the Serpent Mound observation tower, which was built in 1908, remains closed because of needed repairs. The project is in the planning phase.

Parking at Serpent Mound will be $10 on June 20 and $8 on June 21-23. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org/serpentmound.

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About the Shawnee Tribe: The Shawnee Tribe is a sovereign nation of more than 4,000 citizens living across North America and abroad. Tribal headquarters are located in Miami, Oklahoma. The Shawnee Tribe fought to maintain its independence and homelands despite periods of genocide through warfare and disease at the hands of French, Spanish, British and Americans. The Shawnee were regularly forced to relocate their settlements beyond the ever-expanding boundary of colonial-controlled lands. Thus, the Shawnee are often referred to as the “Greatest Travelers in America,” having established historic settlements in more than 20 modern states, with the highest concentration in or near their ancestral homelands of the greater Ohio River region. For more information, go to shawnee-nsn.gov.

About the Ohio History Connection:

The Ohio History Connection is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office and the official state archives and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org. The Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation provide support for Ohio History Connection programs.