Fort Miami
Also known as: Fort Hill
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Fort Miami, also known as Fort Hill, is a prehistoric earthwork on a high bluff where the Great Miami River meets the Ohio River in Hamilton County, Ohio. Two concentric horseshoe-shaped walls, with ends that nearly meet to form gateways, enclose the bluff top. The embankments rise about 10 to 15 feet. The site has been known since the late 1700s and was described by William Henry Harrison in 1839, mapped by Squier and Davis in the 1840s, and tested by Warren K. Moorehead in 1890. University of Cincinnati archaeologists have excavated there since 1965, working in the walls, a mound, test pits and village areas. Their findings show that every developmental stage occupied the bluff, and a radiocarbon date of 270 A.D. points to construction by the Hopewell people. The interior has never been cultivated and remains close to its original condition. The site lies in a public park and offers views of both rivers.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the fort as an outstanding Hopewell-era earthwork with two concentric horseshoe-shaped walls. Excavations since 1965 found that every developmental stage of prehistoric culture occupied the bluff, and a radiocarbon date of 270 A.D. suggests Hopewell construction. The interior has never been cultivated and remains close to original condition.
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). NRHP reference 100002843, listed September 24, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Brower Rd., Elizabethtown |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | September 24, 1971 |
| Reference number | 100002843 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | ca 300 B.C.-500 A.D. |
| Architect / builder | Hopewell people (suggested by radiocarbon date) |
| Areas of significance | Archeology, Historic - Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and altered; used as a park, with walls nearly perfect except where eroded. Ownership later transferred to the Hamilton County Park District. |
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 100002843.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.