Ohio was first settled by the Indians known as “mound builders.” The Adena Indians began the practice for burial purposes and were followed by the Hopewell Indians well before the first European set foot on the continent. The Hopewell made ornaments out of shell, mica and other materials and used the earthworks as ceremonial centers, social gathering places, trading posts, and places of worship. From the standpoint of pre-historic occupation, Ohio is one of the most interesting portions of the entire globe. In no other equal area have so many of the Mound Builders' works consisting of fortifications, effigies, mounds, etc., been found. The total number of mounds in Ohio has been estimated at ten thousand.
The Red Men or Indians, followed the Mound Builders. We know much more about the Indians as they were here only 150 years ago, when this area was first settled by the whites, but we do not know much of their early history. The Delaware Indians were the predominant tribe and take their name from the Delaware River on the East coast which was named for Lord De La Warre who first explored it. Their real name was Lenni Lenape, meaning "original men" or "manly men".
Marietta was Ohio's first permanent English settlement. It was founded in 1788 by General Rufus Putnam and named in honor of Marie Antoinette, then queen of France. Chillicothe was Ohio's first capital. The Chillicothe statehouse was the first stone building erected in the state.
Ohio has played a critical role in the evolution of the United States over the past 200 years. It was the birthplace of seven U.S. Presidents. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, phonograph and motion picture camera while living in Milan. The Wright Brothers honed their skills at their bicycle shop in Dayton. John Lambert of Ohio City made America's first automobile in 1891. John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, traveled throughout the region and planted apple orchards, according to legend. And Cleveland became the world's first city to be lighted electrically in 1879 when Charles Brush successfully demonstrated arc lights on the streets.
Today, Ohio continues to reinvent itself. It is home to both the NFL and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It has the top rated roller coaster in the nation at Cedar Point, one of the nation’s most scenic state parks, century-old landmarks and attractions, and a quality of life that is second to none.
