Mound Park (Horseshoe Mound) & Flood Wall Murals (Portsmouth Ohio)

[claarky]

I was actually in Portsmouth last August, as to the croquet field, there were very thick iron wickets (?) embedded in the ground , and the field was bordered by a very tiny concrete wall , only a few inches high and wide. I never saw anybody play croquet there. i think it must have been very old , even in the 50s. I played there many times.

[innocenceagain]

@claarky Yeah, August was when this video was taken. I didn't notice it, but then again I really was not paying much attention. Next time I'll look closer. :)

[claarky]

i lived at the corner of Grant and Hutchins across from Mound Park for a year or so in the late 50s and if Iremember correctly , they had a croquet field that was permanatley set up at the foot of the mounds,can't be sure as i was 2or 3 yrs old.I haven't lived in Portsmouth in 47 years,but i miss it

[innocenceagain]

@claarky Really? That is very interesting! There is no croquet field there now that I noticed. Portsmouth is a cool place. I've never lived IN Portsmouth, but in southern Ohio and Portsmouth isn't all that far from me. Hopefully someday you can visit Portsmouth again. :)

[crackedbuddha]

If you are interested in visiting again or learning more about the Horseshoe Mound (or the Portsmouth Earthworks as a whole), feel free to contact me directly on YouTube, or I can give you my mother's email address. Thanks again for featuring the mound, which has been such a significant and spiritual part of my own and my family's life over the years :) (sorry for so many comments -- apparently YouTube hates me :p)

[innocenceagain]

@crackedbuddha Hi. :) You are welcome--in fact thank YOU for the comments. :) I do have some interest in the mounds, but my mother is even more interested than I am. I have lived in this area my entire life so the history is very intresting to me.

[innocenceagain]

What time of the year is a better time to visit the mound? It makes more sense now for the mound to be let to 'go to seed' rather than neglected, so I hope you will forgive my assumption--the grafiti and the closed off playground really have nothing to do with the mound I suppose. I'll ammend my description if that helps. :) I

[innocenceagain]

@innocenceagain t is very intresting and anything you want to share about the Earthworks with me is welcome. :) And don't worry about so many comments, youtube has such a low comment limit you sort of have to comment several times. Thanks again!

[crackedbuddha]

@innocenceagain no problem. my mom could probably tell you more about the mounds, as she and my stepfather (and my late father) have been working to protect this and other sacred sites long before I was ever born. in fact, my father knew Bob (Robert) Dafford very well and helped him do research for several of the flood wall murals, including the one of the Portsmouth Moundworks. as a thank you, he included my father's likeness in the Shawnee Town mural (the winter scene).

[innocenceagain]

@crackedbuddha Wow. That is extremely amazing! :) Thanks so much and give my thanks to your mom also for her work. 

[crackedbuddha]

The base of the mound is predominately made of river sand, which was brought up from the Ohio River in baskets (presumably). If not let to 'go to seed', this scared site, as well as many others, would have been destroyed by time and erosion (not to mention human desecration :\) long ago. As it stands, this is the last remaining mound in the Portsmouth Earthworks, which once extended over twenty-six miles. (continued)

[crackedbuddha]

between the City of Portsmouth and the (Loyal) Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. It is unfortunate that your visit to the mound occured during a time each year when we allow the grass to 'go to seed', in order to maintain the integrity of the horseshoe shape. The mound itself was constructed by hand over 2,000 years ago, during what is now known as the 'Moundbuilder' or 'Hopewell' cultures. (continued)

[crackedbuddha]

Hi. First, I would really like to thank you for including footage of the Horseshoe Mound with your video. I am the eldest daughter of the caretakers/stewards of the mound over the past 18 years or so. Both of my parents are native, my mother (who is Odawa from northern Michigan) is an anthropologist. They spear-headed the movement to get the mound's stewardship returned to native people which resulted in an unprecedented land treaty (continued)

[chinbilla]

Thanks for posting this video. I was looking for some research material on the Portsmouth Earthworks and wanted to get a "feel" for the scope of the place. This video was invaluable - saved me a trip!

[innocenceagain]

@chinbilla You are very welcome. :) I am glad that the video was so helpful to you.

[SAUNDERSacts2618]

Very cool Eden!

[innocenceagain]

@SAUNDERSacts2618 thanks Saunders. :)

[mykidsdad36]

Man, those murals are beautiful, and so big! I can't even imagine how long it took to paint all those pictures. We have alot of Indian burial grounds and sites here also, like Rock Eagle mound, and a well known Indian Chief named William McIntosh lived about 40 miles south of here, in central Georgia. You're right , many times we have special places right under our noses, that are rich in history and culture, we do as well.Thanks for sharing, and God Bless, ~ Lee

[innocenceagain]

@mykidsdad36 They really are. :) I'm pretty sure the floodwall was built after a horrible flood in 1937. Then they decided to make the murals and hired a professional mural artist and someone local helped him or something like that. I think they started the painting in 1993 and it took them like 15 years or something to do it all if I am correct.... lol

That is really cool! :) Mom is really interested in seeing all the mounds around here because she studies that stuff...:) God bless!

[KarensFaith]

LOVED that day! Just so much fun, getting out so my kids can see what a rich history the area we live in has. :D And this is just down the road AND it barely scratches the surface. GOOD job, Eden!

[innocenceagain]

@KarensFaith thanks mom