Adena Mansion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Adena
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Southern elevation
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Chillicothe, Ohio
Area	300 acres (120 ha)
Built	1806 (1806)
Architect	Benjamin H. Latrobe
Architectural style	Early Federal
NRHP reference No.	70000515
Added to NRHP	November 10, 1970

Adena Mansion was built for Thomas Worthington by Benjamin Latrobe, and was completed in 1807. It is located on a hilltop west of downtown Chillicothe, Ohio, United States. The property surrounding the mansion included the location of the first mound found to belong to the Adena culture and thus the Adena mansion is the namesake for the Adena people. The state coat of arms is thought to depict the view of Mount Logan from the Adena property. Adena Mansion is often open for visitors for a small fee.

History

Mansion and outbuildings

The stone mansion has historically accurate interiors, including furnishings. The grounds cover 300 acres (1.2 km²) of the original 2,000-acre (8.1 km²) estate. There is a garden area featuring kitchen herbs and heirloom vegetables, with some varieties available for purchase. A former overseer's house has also been restored and demonstrates life for German immigrants to the area.

A modern museum and education center features exhibits on the early European settlement of Ohio. Documents for indentured servants, other primary source materials and archeological finds are showcased.

Thomas Worthington recorded that he chose Adena as the name for his estate because it referred to "places remarkable for the delightfulness of their situation." The museum at Adena has an exhibit which claims Adena is based on a Hebrew word.

In 2003, the Adena Mansion was restored to its 19th-century appearance to celebrate the Ohio Bicentennial. The estate was designated as a National Historic Landmark on February 28, 2003, primarily because it is one of the few surviving examples of Latrobe's designs.

The village of Adena in Jefferson County is named after Adena Mansion.