Serpent Mound is a National Historic Landmark built by the ancient American Indians 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. It’s also on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List (whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5248/) for consideration as an internationally recognized landmark.

Serpent Mound’s Indigenous builders likely created the mound in alignment with the sun’s cycle.

To mark the June 21 summer solstice, the longest day of the year, we’re again partnering with the Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma to bring you programming that showcases the significance of Serpent Mound as a sacred American Indian site.

Speakers are planned at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, Saturday, June 18,–Tuesday, June 21, and guided tours of Serpent Mound are scheduled at 2 and 8 p.m. each day.

Speakers at the four-day event are expected to include:

• Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
• Dr. Bret Ruby of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and the National Park Service
• Talon Silverhorn and Aaron Crank of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
• Burt Logan, Jenn Aultman, Dr. Brad Lepper, Bill Kennedy and Megan Wood of the Ohio History Connection

Please note that the Serpent Mound observation tower, which was built in 1908, is closed for the season because of needed repairs. The project is in the planning phase, and work is expected to begin later this year.