These 16 Unbelievable Ruins In Ohio Will Transport You To The Past

The largest (and most strangely shaped) effigy mound in the world can be found right here in Ohio in Adams County. The 1,348 ft. long uniquely shaped mound depicts a snake, with an oval shape at its head. Although no artifacts or written records were found near the mound to determine who built it, a nearby village site shows evidence of occupation by both the Adena and the later Fort Ancient Cultures. The original purpose of the mound remains a mystery, though there is some evidence for astronomical correlations, according to arcofappalachia.org. You can find this impressive earthwork at 3850 OH-73, Peebles, OH 45660.

Kelleys Island is a gold mine for fascinating ruins. On this island, you'll definitely want to check out Inscription Rock, which features more than 100 prehistoric designs and writings. It's mind-blowing to see firsthand.

The North Shore Loop Trail within Kelleys Island State Park weaves through much of the the island's quarry history and ruins. There are also some winery ruins near the park, but both are located on private property and trespassing is prohibited. (According to atlasobscura.com, the remains of the Monarch Wine Company can be seen from Division Street at the north end of the island, directly across from the cemetery.)

Few people are aware that Kelleys Island is home to the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world. The Glacial Grooves Memorial measures 400 feet long and 35 feet wide. It's a truly fascinating piece of history to be able to see.

Mounds abound at Mound City Group in Ross County where you will find the largest collection of Hopewell culture burial mounds in eastern North America, as well as a museum that showcases the Hopewell culture. You'll find this impressive park at 16062 OH-104, Chillicothe, OH 45601.

The largest hilltop enclosure in North America can be found in Warren County, above the banks of the Little Miami River. This 126-acre plateau is enclosed by embankment walls that stand about 5 to 23 feet high, which were constructed by the Hopewell Indians by repeatedly dumping baskets of soil on top of one another. Although the exact purpose of the embankment is unknown, archeologists speculate that it was built for ceremonial purposes rather than as a fortress. Today, several research projects still continue ever since remote sensing lead to the discovery of a circular arrangement of posts beneath the ground (commonly known as the Moorhead Circle) in 2005, according to fortancient.org. Fort Ancient Earthworks is located at 6123 OH-350, Oregonia, OH 45054.

Very little is left of this early 1800s mill town in Delaware County. Stone bridge pillars and the skeleton of Bieber's Mill are all that remain of this long forgotten town. The ruins of the old mill, which was built in 1840, (pictured) sit along the Olentangy River in Delaware near the Ohio Wesleyan University.

The 166-acre Indian Mound Reserve in Cedarville features several hiking trails less than a mile, managed by the Greene County Park District. (We recommend taking the .6-mile Upper Rim Trail to Cedar Cliff Falls after you've explored the mounds.) Indian Mound Reserve is located at 2750 US-42, Cedarville, OH 45314.

The largest and most complex set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world were built by the Hopewell between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D., and remnants of these massive earthworks still exist today. In spite of the growth of the city of Newark, three major segments of earthworks are preserved; the Great Circle Earthworks, the Octagon Earthworks and the Wright Earthworks. Newark Earthworks is located at 455 Hebron Rd., Heath, OH 43056.

Southern Ohio was once home to multiple railroad tunnels. Little remains of the abandoned coal mining town of Moonville in Vinton County except for a few foundations, a nearby cemetery and an old railroad tunnel—a tunnel supposedly haunted by ghosts of locals who died from being struck by passing trains.

This partially excavated Fort Ancient culture village in Dayton features several restored houses on their original foundations. The massive cedar pole at the center of the village, serving as a sundial, gives the village its name. Visitors can also explore an onsite museum. SunWatch Indian Village is located at 2301 W River Rd., Dayton, OH 45417.

The Miaimisburg Mound is the largest Adena culture burial mound in Ohio and one of the two largest conical mounds in eastern North America. It is 65 feet tall and 800 feet in circumference, and contains 54,000 cubic yards of earth, according to ohiohistory.org. It's located at 900 Mound Rd., Miamisburg, OH 45342.

In the late 1800s, Peter Hayden's Mining and Manufacturing Company was once a thriving industry for the town of Haydenville. Today, the tunnel is rumored to be haunted by ghosts of former workers. You can find the tunnel in the ravine behind Haydenville Cemetery.

Also known as the "Great Indian Quarry of Ohio," these 8 miles of quarry pits and high-quilaity flint were used by all of Ohio’s ancient American Indian cultures at one point or another. There is also an onsite museum for visitors to explore and learn more about the archeology and geology of Flint Ridge. It's located at 7091 Brownsville Rd., Glenford, OH 43739.

This Hopewell ceremonial center is located at the junction of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers in Washington County. Three segments of the Marietta Earthworks are preserved today. Pictured is Conus Mound, which can be found in Mound Cemetery.