Great Council State Park

Great Council State Park Great Council State Park honors Shawnee history and resilience on the historic site of Old Chillicothe.

Explore exhibits, hands-on programs, and activities to connect with Shawnee traditions, seasonal lifeways, and Ohio’s rich Native heritage. Great Council State Park serves as a space for discovery, learning, and connection. Our mission is to preserve the legacy of the Shawnee people while fostering understanding of their enduring cultural, historical, and environmental impact. Through dynamic prog

rams, exhibits, and community engagement, we highlight the stories of Old Chillicothe and the rich traditions that continue to shape Shawnee life today. Whether you're exploring hands-on activities or delving into history, Great Council State Park offers an opportunity to connect with Ohio's Native heritage in meaningful ways.

Join us on June 6th for a variety of guests, programs, food trucks, and more to celebrate the cultural heritage of Green...
06/03/2026

Join us on June 6th for a variety of guests, programs, food trucks, and more to celebrate the cultural heritage of Greene County. Special guests will include Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, representatives of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Peter Cozzens, Robert A. Crum, and more!

New flowers won’t be the only thing you’ll find this summer at Great Council, as our new program schedule starts June 1s...
05/23/2026

New flowers won’t be the only thing you’ll find this summer at Great Council, as our new program schedule starts June 1st! Join us for a variety of new programming the next time you visit!

Lacrosse sticks are pretty common during lacrosse season, but this one doesn’t quite look right…That’s because this one ...
05/17/2026

Lacrosse sticks are pretty common during lacrosse season, but this one doesn’t quite look right…

That’s because this one is used for a game called stickball, which historically was used as an intermediate option between war and diplomacy for Shawnee communities. If a conflict was too heated to be decided diplomatically and not worth the cost of a war, the outcome could be wagered on a game. Today, stickball is played competitively and recreationally in many Tribal communities. Stickball’s rules even inspired modern lacrosse! If you want to learn more, feel free to ask on your next visit to Great Council.

Reproductions here provided by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Want to be a part of Great Council's story and help start our garden? We are looking for volunteer help Saturday, May 9t...
05/08/2026

Want to be a part of Great Council's story and help start our garden? We are looking for volunteer help Saturday, May 9th from 2:30 to 5pm to help establish our Three Sisters Garden here at Great Council. Dress to get dirty and bring water!

That’s a funny looking tablecloth…Wait — look again! It’s actually a tanned deer hide!This hide was made using a method ...
05/01/2026

That’s a funny looking tablecloth…

Wait — look again! It’s actually a tanned deer hide!

This hide was made using a method inspired by traditional brain tanning and — techniques that helped make hides soft, flexible, and perfect for clothing long before European fabrics became common.

Before contact, hides like this were widely used for everyday wear. Over time, materials like wool and linen from the fur trade took their place, and hides were often traded for other goods instead of being used for clothing.

Pretty neat, right? If you want to learn more about how hides were prepared — and see this one up close — be sure to ask during your next visit to Great Council!

Want to rep your favorite state park while shopping? The easiest way to do so would be to purchase a Great Council State...
04/25/2026

Want to rep your favorite state park while shopping? The easiest way to do so would be to purchase a Great Council State Park tote bag at our interpretative center! We’ve also got plenty of items in our gift shop to help fill your bag too!

Join us in the conference room at 1pm for our next book club meeting, Legendary Frybread Drive-in!
04/22/2026

Join us in the conference room at 1pm for our next book club meeting, Legendary Frybread Drive-in!

What could be better than having your local library at your local state park? Join us Saturday, April 25th for a series ...
04/18/2026

What could be better than having your local library at your local state park? Join us Saturday, April 25th for a series of activities with the Xenia Community Library at Great Council State Park. We look forward to seeing you!

It may not look like much now, but our Three Sisters Garden at Great Council has begun! Since the area we are using was ...
04/14/2026

It may not look like much now, but our Three Sisters Garden at Great Council has begun! Since the area we are using was not previously a garden, the first step is smothering any plant life in the area with a layer of cardboard. This should give us a blank slate to plant on in the coming months. Stay tuned as the garden progresses!

Address

1587 US Route 68 North
Xenia, OH
45385

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+19375020057

Website

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