Join me as I visit the sites in the Ohio History Connection network! This month’s trip took me to the Octagon Earthworks in Newark.

You’ll probably be hearing a lot about the Octagon Earthworks from all of us at the Ohio History Connection. We’re very excited that the site is now publicly accessible. Built between 1 and 400 A.D., this architectural wonder was part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory. The 134-acre site includes a circle component that’s 20 acres and the Octagon, which is 50 acres. The Octagon Earthworks is aligned to the four moonrises and moonsets that mark an 18.6-year lunar cycle.

The Octagon is part of the Newark Earthworks complex, which also includes the Great Circle Earthworks. The Octagon and the Great Circle are part of the eight Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks locations, which were inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sept. 19, 2023. The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is Ohio’s first World Heritage Site and the 25th of only 26 World Heritage Sites in the U.S. The other Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks locations are the Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve in Oregonia and five at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe.

Address: The Octagon Earthworks is at 125 N. 33^rd St. in Newark.

How much time: Budget about 90 minutes for your visit. I would suggest you plan your visit to coincide with the guided tours of the site that are offered at Noon every Wednesday through Sunday. While the earthworks are impressive and certainly may be enjoyed on your own, the insights you’ll get during the guided tour will make them come alive in a new way.

Truda’s Tips: Be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes or boots, especially during the winter months. The tour involves a lot of walking. The staff will have access to golf carts during the warmer months, so they’ll be able to accommodate visitors with mobility issues. I’d recommend you contact the site staff in advance of your visit if you think you’ll need this accommodation. Email Site Manager Sarah Hinkelman at [email protected].

Kid Friendly? YES!: The Octagon is a great place for kids. They can run around and use their imagination to think about what it was like when it was in use 2,000 years ago, as well as think about the incredible amount of people-power that was necessary to build such an impressive site. We do ask that you don’t let kids climb on the earthworks. It’s pretty tempting! However, the earthworks are sacred AND we want them to be around for another 2,000 years. Not climbing on them is one important way of preserving them for future generations.

Lunch: Lunch is a very important part of any road trip! The Octagon has plenty of space to spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch, weather permitting, of course. The site does not currently have picnic tables available.

We opted for the seven-minute drive to the Earthworks Café & Lounge for a delicious lunch. It’s located in Newark Station, a restored warehouse that has plenty of free parking. The restaurant itself is a fun and funky space that highlights maps of the Newark Earthworks. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the bathrooms are very clean and spacious.

The menu features sandwiches, salads and burgers, as well as a kids menu. I had the hot honey chicken and loved it. My colleagues had the Caesar chicken wrap and the Todd burger. Everyone was very happy with their selections.

The Earthworks Café & Lounge also has a full coffee bar, so we grabbed lattes and mochas for the drive back to the office. They roast their own coffee, and it is excellent.

Other great options for lunch in Newark include Puerto Vallarta (a staff favorite) for Mexican food and Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen & Tap for pizza, sandwiches and salads.

For more information: To learn more about the Octagon, you can visit our website or the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks website. The grounds are open during daylight hours. The visitor center is open limited hours Wednesdays through Sundays while tours are being held; expanded hours are planned in the future. The visitor center does not currently include a museum, but staff members are available to chat, and there are pamphlets and other materials to help you learn about the site. There are also restrooms available when the visitor center is open.

Want to make a day of it? The Great Circle Earthworks, also part of the Newark Earthworks, is just six minutes away. There’s a museum with a great gift shop and restrooms at that site. Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries & Nature Preserve is just 20 minutes away. You can learn more at our website or read about my trip here. Both of these sites are Ohio History Connection sites.

The Octagon is located in Licking County. Discover everything it has to offer by visiting Explore Licking County.