OREGONIA - The best-kept secret of the summer is the Museum at Fort Ancient, 6123 Ohio 350, near Lebanon in Warren County.

The museum opened several years ago, but apparently most people don't know it yet.

Only a few people stopped by on the afternoon when I visited.

It's a great place for kids and adults interested in local history and culture. Outside, a museum volunteer instructed me on how to throw a mound builder's spear (ouch).

From the scenic overlook, I saw the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge, about 5 miles away. The site is also laced with hiking and interpretive trails.

A garden, like the ones kept by the ancients, stands behind the museum.

The entire place is dedicated to telling the story of area American Indian tribes, from the mound builders who constructed the amazing 764-acre hilltop enclosure (North America's largest) to the more familiar tribes of the 1700s.

For centuries, archaeologists assumed Fort Ancient was used as a defensive complex, but now they think it could have been a social and ceremonial meeting place.

Clearly, my favorite part of the park is the museum. It contains models, wall displays, a long Indian canoe, portraits, recreated scenes with life-size figures, and interactive displays.

My own interest centered on the Indians of the 1600s through the 1800s.

A display explains how the Iroquois, when they exhausted their supply of beavers in the area that is now New York State in the 1600s, came into the Ohio country to hunt and sell hides to the British.

The warrior tribe drove out local tribes in what is called the Beaver Wars, and then used the land as a hunting ground for a few years.

The museum features pictures of Indian leaders (Blue Jacket, Pontiac, Tecumseh, etc.) and tells about their struggles.

Fort Ancient is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including holidays, through September, and from Wednesday through Sunday in October and November.Information: 932-4421.

FAIRFIELD - The Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra will perform in concert at 7 p.m. today at the Village Green amphitheater off Pleasant Avenue (U.S. 127) in Butler County.

The outdoor concert will include movie music, patriotic songs, folk music, ragtime and selections by three Elvis impersonators, said conductor Paul Stanbery.

Admission is free.

Information: www.hfso.org.

OWENSVILLE - The Clermont County Fair ends today, and a horse show will be one of the featured events.

At the horse arena at 3 p.m., judge Norm Grossnickle will preside over quarter horses and other types, period costumes and a western horsemanship program.

Information: fairgrounds, 732-1657.

Randy McNutt's community column appears on Saturday. Contact him at the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: Rmcnutt@enquirer.com.