November is Native American Heritage Month, also referred to as Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month, and Montgomery County has a rich history of indigenous peoples and cultures. In 1990, Congress passed and President George H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution that designated November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month. Presidents have issued proclamations marking the heritage month every year since, changing its name in 2009 to National Native American Heritage Month.

Here are a few ways you can explore that history and celebrate around the Dayton area!

Free Admission at SunWatch Village in November

November 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free tours every Sunday in November, 2-3 p.m.

SunWatch Indian Village

Throughout the month of November, SunWatch Village, operated by the Dayton Society of Natural History, will offer FREE admission. SunWatch Village is currently open Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.

You can also sign up for a FREE guided tour of SunWatch Village, every Sunday throughout the month of November, from 2 to 3 p.m. Tours are free of charge, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

SunWatch Village is a pre-historic site and visitor's center that preserves the remains of a 12th-century Fort Ancient culture settlement. Excavations began in the 1960s, revealing evidence of a complex, planned community with dwellings, a central plaza, and a sophisticated understanding of astronomy. The site offers valuable insights into the lives, traditions, and innovations of the Fort Ancient peoples who inhabited the region centuries before European contact. It contains well-preserved archaeological evidence, including houses, food storage pits, tools, pottery, and other artifacts that provide crucial insights into the daily life, social structure, and technological advancements of the Fort Ancient culture. The site's layout, including its circular design and alignment with celestial events, highlights the inhabitants' advanced understanding of astronomy and seasonal cycles.

SunWatch Village is located at 2301 West River Road in Dayton.

Explore the Miamisburg Mound

Open daily, during daylight hours, free admission

a view of the miamisburg mound, a large, conical earthen mound, with steps leading to the top of it

The Miamisburg Mound is one of the two largest conical mounds in eastern North America. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mound is 65 feet tall and 800 feet in circumference and contains 54,000 cubic yards of earth. The mound is visible from several miles away because it stands atop a 100-foot high ridge above the Great Miami River. Steps have been built to the top observation platform, where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the area.

This unique historic site, located at 900 Mound Road in Miamisburg, is free and open to the public during daylight hours.

Other Events & Resources

The SOLD OUT Four Winds Great Miami Indigenous Fashion Show will take place on Sunday, November 9 in The Tank at the Dayton Arcade. It will highlight traditional and contemporary Indigenous fashion designs. You can learn more about the organization at its Facebook page.

If you want to learn more about Native American history in Montgomery County and Southwest Ohio, explore resources at the University of Dayton Libraries, as well as a variety of programs offered by Dayton Metro Library branches throughout the month. Be sure to also explore related historical sites in our surrounding counties and communities.

For more about things to see and do in Destination Dayton, visit our Calendar of Events, request a free Visitors Guide, and download our free Destination Dayton App!