ASHLAND — The Ashland County Historical Society (ACHS) welcomes its final speaker Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in its 2026 Speaker Series.
This free event hosted at the Freer Children’s Home (1260 Center St, Ashland) will begin at 6:30 and features Ohio archaeologist Sarah Hinkelman who will guide participants through
an engaging program entitled, “Shaped by the Land: Ohio Geology, Archaeology, and People – 14,000 BCE to Present.”
One of the most common questions heard by public archaeologists and docents at Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is: “Why here?” Often dismissed as a “fly-over state,” Ohio is anything but unremarkable. Its landscape and history are deep, complex, and shaped by thousands of years of human connection to place.
ACHS Executive Director Sara Fisher said the speaker series brings more attention to the untold stories of Ohio that receive less coverage in traditional history lessons.
“One of the things with our speaker series we really try to do is highlight some of our under-told stories, both locally, regionally and statewide,” Fisher said.
In this presentation, Sarah Hinkelman, Ohio archaeologist and Site Superintendent of the Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge, explores “Why Ohio?” by examining how geology and landscape influenced human life — and how people, in turn, shaped the land. From foothills to floodplains, flint outcrops to prairies, rivers to lakes, Ohio has been an extraordinary place to live for over 14,000 years.
Hinkelman is an Ohio public archaeologist from Northeastern Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Classics and World Religions and a master’s degree in Anthropology from Ohio State, focusing on Midwestern Precontact archaeology.
Her research and fieldwork have centered on Indigenous Late Precontact sites in southwestern Ohio and southeastern Indiana. For the past eight years, she has worked to interpret and preserve the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (Ohio’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site added in 2023, https://hopewellearthworks.org/) — first as a park guide at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and currently as Site Superintendent of the Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge for the Ohio History Connection.
The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 at the Freer Children’s Home with the program beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m.
The historical society has welcomed close to 250 attendees to its speaker programs this year. Fisher said participation increases each year as more people become interested in new ways to engage with history.
At the Ashland County Fair, some residents stopped by the historical society’s booth to thank staff for expanding its programming.
“They say, thank you for doing more programs and offering more opportunities to engage with all aspects of history,” Fisher said.
Another speaker series is already in the works for 2027. Four programs are planned throughout the year. The first is expected in March and will focus on topics related to Women’s History Month.
The 2026 ACHS Speaker Series is made possible in part by a grant from the Ashland County Community Foundation.
About ACHS
ACHS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings Ashland County’s history alive through education, preservation, and community engagement. Located at 420 Center Street, Ashland. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 to 3:00 for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available by appointment.
Its entire campus includes the Noonan and Manor Houses, Freer Home, and the Carriage House, which serves as its research library. For more information, visit www.ashlandhistory.org or call 419-289-3111.
