Story Mound State Memorial
Also known as: Chillicothe Mound #5
Why it's listed
Story Mound State Memorial is a large earthen burial mound in a residential part of Chillicothe, Ohio, near three public secondary schools on former fairgrounds land. Built by the Adena people between about 500 B.C. and 400 A.D., it now stands 19.5 feet high with a base 95 feet across. It was reported as 25 feet tall before it was excavated in 1897. Clarence Loveberry tunneled into the mound that year and found the post pattern of a circular timber building, fifteen feet across, with a single burial of a young male inside. Grave goods included slate gorgets, bone beads and two caches of stemmed projectile points. This was the first documented circular Adena timber building, a form later understood as common in Adena architecture. Donated to the State of Ohio in 1950, the mound is kept open to visitors and is valued as a type site and as an urban interpretive landmark.
Significance in brief: The mound was excavated in 1897 by Clarence Loveberry using tunnels and yielded the first documented circular Adena timber building. This structure type later proved typical of Adena ceremonial and domestic architecture, so the mound is considered a type site for Adena architectural norms. It has also been restored and maintained for public benefit as a classic Adena mortuary complex.
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 73001529, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | East of junction of Cherokee and Delano Streets, Chillicothe |
|---|---|
| County | Ross County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001529 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | ca. 500 B.C.-400 A.D. |
| Architect / builder | Prehistoric Adena Indian group |
| Areas of significance | Prehistoric |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; maintained by the State of Ohio and the Ohio Historical Society and open to the public. Minor erosion on the summit and slight subsidence on the flanks from the 1897 tunnels. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 39.34208, -82.99946 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 73001529.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18617458
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.