The Serpent Mound, the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park and Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, all in southern Ohio, have been nominated for the World Heritage List-a list that includes such wonders as the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
According to the application for inclusion of a property in the U.S. World Heritage List, the property must be "formally designated as a national historic landmark, a national natural landmark or as a federal reserve of national importance, such as a national park, national monument or national wildlife refuge."
Keith Bengtson, site manager for the Serpent Mound, recognizes the prestige that comes in being named to the list.
"It's an honor to (be on the World Heritage List) because it puts us up with some great historical sites such as the great pyramids," Bengtson said. "It would lead worldwide recognition to the site."
The Serpent Mound, located east of Cincinnati over the Ohio Brush Creek, current sees more out-of-state visitors than in-state visitors, Bengtson said. He expects that being named to the World Historical List would expand the number of visitors from both in- and out-of-state, but is not sure how it would affect the number of worldwide visitors.
Another nominee to the World Heritage List is the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park. It includes Huffman Prairie Flying Field, the Wright Cycle Co., Wright and Wright Printing, Hawthorn Hill and Wright Hall.
Dayton Aviation Heritage Superintendent Larry Blake said making the World Heritage List is a process.
"It's a two-step process," Blake said. "First you have to get on the country's list, and right now we are on the U.S. list."
In order to be on the U.S. list, the site must show interest in partaking in the World Heritage List and fulfill requirements mentioned in the application for inclusion of a property in the U.S. World Heritage List.
According to Blake, the United States is scrapping the old list they started years ago and creating a new updated list starting in 2006.
The Hopewell sites, along with the Serpent Mound, belong to the Ohio Historical Society (OHS). The OHS takes care of properties in Ohio that are recognized by the federal government for their significance in history, whether it is for architecture, archeology, engineering or culture.
"It's really neat to have so many OHS sites nominated," Bengtson said. "It will give us better exposure outside of Ohio."
The World Heritage List nominations will be a big deal for Ohio and may bring in more options for revenues for the OHS and their historical sites and programs, according to Bengtson "It will help us too, by getting (OHS) more well known, to open up for more grants," Bengtson said "(It) puts us on a different playing field when applying for grants for operating."
Bengtson notes that becoming a World Heritage site would benefit both the sites and the Midwest in general.
"When we become a World Heritage site, it will expand our programs on a national scale," Bengtson said. "It will open a lot of doors for recognitions dealing with the Midwest archeology."
By the end of December or the beginning of January, the U.S. should have their complete list of American sites.
"It's a 10-year process (to get on the World Heritage List) after that," Blake said. "The U.S. will nominate two sites a year from 2009 to 2018 (from their list of American sites.) There will eventually be 20 sites (from America nominated to the World Heritage List)."
There are currently 830 sites on the World Heritage List. Twenty sites are on the U.S. tentative list; eight of which are cultural sites and the remaining 12 are natural sites, said Brandi Harmon a park ranger from the Hopewell Culture site.
Ohio does not currently have any sites on the World Heritage List.
