Clevelanders Think Highbanks Metro Park, With Its History And Hiking, Truly Has It All
Ohio is famous for its “Mound Builders.” This term refers collectively to a number of indigenous American cultures, like the well-known Adena and Hopewell cultures, that constructed mounds and earthworks for religious, ritual, or mortuary purposes. When it comes to burial mounds in Cleveland, we don’t have any… but we did. They were flattened to “make room” for churches and residential areas, among other things. This lapse in judgment has caused us to lose any hope of gaining more understanding of the indigenous cultures that previously called the Cleveland area home… fortunately, however, there are a few notable mounds within driving distance of home. Today we’re heading to Lewis Center, about two hours away, to explore a unique destination.
Before you panic and say, "But Lewis Center isn't near Cleveland... it's closer to Columbus!" You are right. But it's near enough for a day trip, and it is one we as Ohioans should absolutely take.
It is worth the drive... truly! As we Clevelanders have, unfortunately, destroyed our local mounds, we have a duty to try to understand the diverse peoples that originally constructed them.
Highbanks Metro Park, a pretty collective of 1,200 acres overlooking the Olentangy State Scenic River, has all sorts of trails.
You'll want to check in advance before you set out to hike, as some trails in the park are paved and ADA accessible, while some are dirt paths through the woods.
Easily visible earthworks exist off of Coyote Run and Overlook Trail.
This little hill is actually not a hill, but a subconical mound associated with the Adena culture in the Early Woodland period. Even crazier, it is one of two Adena-era mounds on site.
Archaeological surveys, albeit noninvasive ones considering the legal implications of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), have been conducted in the area. NAGPRA strictly prohibits scientists or anyone else from disturbing sites with human remains or other sacred objects.
Deeper in the woods, you will find the Highbank Park Works. This little mound is thought to be built by the Cole peoples, perhaps once serving as a boundary marker.
This Late Woodland Period is thought, thanks in part to excavations like the ones around the Highbank Park Works, to be descended from the Hopewell culture.
What makes these mounds, and much of the park, so significant is that they have hardly been disturbed by modern settlers. No farming has disturbed them, nor has any invasive excavation.
The only thing that has disturbed the mounds is the natural frost and melt cycles of the earth. Otherwise, these spots are au naturel.
As you explore Highbanks Metro Park, you'll see why early indigenous cultures fell in love with this environment. It was surely every bit as beautiful today.
And this site is truly stunning. It's not just a historical wonder... it's a natural one, too!
Highbanks, named for its 100-foot-high shale bluffs, is open 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Summer is the perfect time to visit to ensure you make the most of daylight!
Whether or not you can claim indigenous ancestry, the people that once occupied this site are sort of our cultural ancestors. We share the same land they called home centuries ago, and they have left us little clues hinting to their lifestyles and beliefs. Some of those clues are buried deep in the ground, others are waiting to surface at the end of the next freeze and thaw cycle.
This park on the National Register of Historic Places merits a trip from Cleveland, at least as an opportunity to stop, learn, and understand why the preservation of these sites is so important.
There may not be a multitude of burial mounds in Cleveland or even near Cleveland, but earthworks crisscross the region, reminding us of the rich Ohio culture that predates European settlement. What’s your favorite local archaeological site?
Believe it or not, there are more earthworks in Rocky River Reservation, and the Burrell Orchard site in French Creek Reservation continues to amaze archaeologists. History abounds in this pretty state… so keep your eyes peeled, because you never know who will make the next archaeological discovery.
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Address: Highbanks Metro Park, 9466 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035, USA
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Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
