Miamisburg Mound
Also known as: Miamisburg Mound State Memorial
Why it's listed
Rising from a 100-foot bluff southeast of Miamisburg, this earthwork measures 877 feet around its base and about 70 feet high, with some writers reporting 85 feet. Its base covers roughly an acre and a half, and 116 steps lead to the summit. Adena people built it, probably in late Adena times and likely in stages over a long period, which would have required a large and stable settled community. It is described as the largest prehistoric burial mound in Ohio and reputedly in the eastern United States. In 1869 local citizens sank a shaft and found a single skeleton near the top and flat stones at 24 feet that resembled an altar. No complete scientific exploration has been done. Charles Kettering bought the mound in 1920 and gave it to the Ohio Historical Society in 1929, and additional land was donated in 1936. Trees and ground cover have covered it since the early 1800s. The nominated area was reduced to the mound alone, about 1.5 acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the largest prehistoric burial mound in Ohio and reputedly in the eastern United States. It was built by the Adena people, probably in late Adena times, and has been a noted landmark since American settlers arrived in the Great Miami River Valley. It has never been fully explored scientifically.
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 70000511, listed November 10, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Miamisburg on OH 725, Miamisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 10, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000511 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | Pre-Columbian (Adena, 500 B.C.-400 A.D.) |
| Architect / builder | Adena Indians (prehistoric) |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent and altered; the site is public, unoccupied and unrestricted, used as a park. Excavation scars were erased, steps and fences added, and the mound landscaped. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.62739, -84.28085 (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 70000511.
- 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.