CHILLICOTHE
The first and third capital of Ohio

Modern Chillicothe was the center of the Hopewell Indian culture from 200 years before the birth of Christ.  The Hopewells had trade routes that extended to the Rocky Mountains; to what is now Canada; and to the eastern and southern coasts of North America.

They built earthen mounds for ceremonial and burial purposes throughout the Scioto and Ohio River valleys.

Europeans moved into the yet-to-be Ohio area heavily after the American Revolution and Chillicothe became Ohio's first capital with statehood in 1803.

The capital was moved to Zanesville in 1810 for two years as part of a political compromise then moved back to Chillicothe in 1812.  The capital was moved to Columbus in 1816 to be closer to the center of the state.

Square dancing friends Roberta Karger (top left), Russ and Jane (right) Matz join lady friend Sue Brooks in pondering the current home of the Chillicothe Gazette newspaper, Ohio's oldest.  Founded in 1793 the paper moved to Chillicothe when it became the center of territorial government circa 1800.  The Gazette building pictured is a replica of the first capital building and is located downtown at 50 W. Main St.

Six of us including Roberta's husband Don danced two evenings in nearby Jackson, OH and visited the Ross County area.  Today's piece is first in a series that will include peeks at the site that inspired Ohio's State Seal, The Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, and, the Adena Mansion, home of Thomas Worthington, known as the "Father of Ohio" and the state's sixth governor.

We will conclude the series with a relaxing ride on the Hocking Valley Railroad and a peek at a reconstructed colonial town on the campus of Hocking College in Nelsonville.

Please stay tuned.