Fort Hill
Also known as: Little Cedar Point Fort
Why it's listed
Fort Hill is a prehistoric earthwork on the eastern tip of a roughly 200-foot-high plateau within Rocky River Reservation, between North Olmsted and Brook Park in Cuyahoga County. Three parallel walls, each with a ditch along its west side, cross the point and were probably built with post stockades backed by heaped earth. The hilltop of about 2 acres may have held a village, with the defended tip used only in times of danger. When Charles Whittlesey surveyed it before 1888, the walls were 15 feet wide and about 4 feet high; erosion has since lowered them to undulating rises of 2 to 3 feet. No excavation has been recorded, so natural erosion is the only known disturbance. The site was recommended for listing because few comparable earthworks in the Cleveland area have escaped destruction by urban growth. Its protection within a public park supports its value for education and interpretation of the prehistoric Erie Indians.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Fort Hill is an excellent example of a prehistoric earthwork and village location. It is unusually well preserved for the Cleveland metropolitan area because it lies within a park, where many comparable sites have been destroyed. Its interpretive and educational value is enhanced by that park setting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001460, listed July 25, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of North Olmsted off OH 252, North Olmsted |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | July 25, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001460 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | A.D. 1000 - A.D. 1654 |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked good and altered, with erosion the only disturbance. No archaeological excavation is recorded. The site is public parkland and unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.40933, -81.88642 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001460.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.