Your class can benefit tremendously by visiting Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. Park staff is available for mound and museum tours, as well as a variety of hands-on activities. Most programs can be tailored to any educational level. Field trips for most educational groups are not charged entrance or activity fees. Please schedule your groups at least two months in advance and keep in mind that April, May, and October fill up quickly. For more information or to schedule your group, contact a Ranger by phone at 740-774-1126 or by e-mail.

Ranger-led Tours and Hands-on Programs

Legacy of the Moundbuilders. Most students benefit from viewing the park’s 17-minute film about how and why earthworks were built. Film is suitable for third grade and up.

Mound Tour. A guided tour of the Mound City Group explains how people of the Hopewell culture lived their lives and discusses the importance of cultural and natural resource stewardship.

Museum Tour. A guided tour of the museum talks about the 2,000 year old artifacts excavated from the Mound City Group and leads students through an interactive computer program about the Hopewell culture.

Hopewell Tool Time. Students figure out how prehistoric tools were used and what their modern counterparts are in today’s toolbox.

Travel or Trade? Students use a floor-sized map of North America to learn where and how raw materials were obtained by the Hopewell culture.

Outdoor Games and Demonstrations. Students learn how to throw spears using a spearthrower or atlatl and learn how to play a Native American that requires great hand-eye coordination.

What’s Hidden in the Midden? Students learn techniques for shifting, removing, documenting, analyzing, and classifying the contents of a prehistoric midden or trash area.