World Heritage: It’s Everyone’s Business in Chillicothe and Ross County

Ross County & Hopewellian Ohio — The recent designation of a local park complex by the United Nations as having world significance is about recognizing the remnants of an important prehistoric culture – but it can also be about local businesses and the local economy.

The Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce and the Ross Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted a short seminar, “World Heritage: It’s Everyone’s Business” on June 20th. It focused on the “Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks” which includes the five park units of the national park in Ross County, as well as Fort Ancient towards Cincinnati, and two parks in Newark.

Guest speakers included Melody Young, executive director of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau; Chris Alford, superintendent of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park; and Matt MacLaren, travel and tourism policy director for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

As the Chamber posted in their promotion of the event:

“Are you aware of Chillicothe’s position as the epicenter of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks? Would you like to discover how your business can attract worldwide visitors and position itself as a must-visit attraction?”

They wrote that it would be “a special event to inform businesses about capitalizing on Chillicothe’s burgeoning tourism industry…attracting and catering to the increasing number of tourists visiting Chillicothe.”

Being a member of the local tourism industry was another reason for me to attend, as well as to report on the event. So, read my stories on my interviews with the Ohio Chamber travel and tourism policy director – and the superintendent of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, who has experience with two other World Heritage-listed parks.

Learn more:

• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park website, Facebook page, Instagram account, Twitter / X, and YouTube channel.
• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks World Heritage website, Facebook page, Instagram account, and YouTube channel.
• Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau website and Faceboook page.
• Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce website, Facebook page, Twitter / X, and YouTube channel.