Karen Rase | Greene County News
A statue of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh greets visitors to the new Great Council State Park, which opened to the public Friday in Oldtown. The park was created to tell the story of the Shawnee, who dwelled in the area.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes addresses the crowd while Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine look on.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
Devon Frazier-Smith (left) of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office in Oklahoma appeared in the movie that was shown. She is pictured with Carol Baker of the Absentee Tribe in Oklahoma. Baker is the cultural preservation director for the tribe.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
The headdress of Devon Frazier-Smith of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office in Oklahoma.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News
Gov. Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine and two of their grandchildren check out the “Panther Across the Ohio Sky” at the main entrance to the park. Tecumseh’s name translates to Panther in the Sky or Panther Leaping at Prey. This panther embodies Tecumseh’s spirit, intelligence, and legacy as a fierce warrior, uniter, and guardian of Shawnee culture and tribal history, according to a plaque at the park.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News
This exhibit allows visitors to develop their own wampum design. The Shawnee and other tribes used wampum belts to record important events, treaties, and stories.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News
The back of the park features a trail loop, and land that goes all the way to the Little Miami River.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
The interior lobby of the Interpretive Center, shot from the second floor, features interactive displays, acclaimed artwork, and educational exhibits.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
Prairies surround the Interpretive Center at Great Council State Park.
Karen Rase | Greene County News
A 20-ft living stream simulating the Little Miami River can be found in the south wing of Level 1.
OLDTOWN — Located on St. Rt. 68 — between Xenia and Yellow Springs — sits the newly opened Great Council State Park. The park, built near a small Shawnee settlement founded in Oldtown over a century ago, held its grand opening on Friday, June 7, at 10 a.m.
The long-anticipated park’s grand opening drew a crowd of over 1,000 which had gathered outside in front of the center to hear Gov. Mike DeWine’s opening remarks which included a shout out to visiting tribes.
“This is your home,” said DeWine. “Long after I’m Governor, we’ll continue our relationship.” First Lady Fran DeWine spoke about her affinity for that area known as “Old Chillicothe” having grown up just a few miles down the road from the Interpretive Center site. She also had studied the diets of the tribes and pioneers living in the area and shared that knowledge with those who had gathered.
DeWine welcomed three federally-recognized Shawnee tribes and their leaders — Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe; Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe, and Representative DeWayne Wilson of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe — all of whom had traveled from Oklahoma to view their ancestor’s former homeland and tribal home — that of legendary Shawnee warrior, Tecumseh, who died in the Battle of 1812.
After the tribal leaders spoke, small gifts were presented to the DeWines and a tall bronze statue of Tecumseh (who was known as the “panther in the sky”) was unveiled in his likeness depicting a possible battle stance or addressing other tribal leaders. Other officials such as Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz, and ODNR’s Division of Parks and Watercraft Chief, Glen Cobb, spoke about working with the DeWines and the timeline of making the proposed interpretive center and state park a reality.
The park features a cultural interpretive center focused on Ohio’s Native Peoples and their connection and history to the prevailing farmland, prairies, forests, and scenic rivers such as the Little Miami. The 12,000 square foot interpretive center features a three-story structure, which was designed to pay tribute to the Shawnee longhouse, a traditional dwelling of the Shawnee people.
A living stream — stocked with fish native to the local river and streams — was a key attraction at the grand opening and a signature display located on the main floor which also holds a theater, various exhibits, gift area, welcome desk, and other points of interest.
Due to a generous donation by the Knick family, land along the river banks is preserved by the Little Miami Conservancy and the Tecumseh Land Trust. The park is working to restore its former vast prairie and habitat. A half mile trail takes visitors through a variety of wild plants such as hemp dogbone which was used to make cords, fishing line, and nets by the Shawnee.
Contact Karen Rase at 937-502-4534.
