Cowan Lake State Park in southwestern Ohio centers on a man-made lake surrounded by woodland and is known for recreation, birdwatching, and fossil-rich geology. The area was once home to Miami and Shawnee communities and opened to American settlement after the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. William Smalley became the first settler there, aided by knowledge gained during earlier captivity among the Lenape. Named for Cowan Creek and pioneer surveyor John Cowan, the lake was created by damming the creek in 1950, and the park was established in 1968. Today it offers trails, camping, boating, fishing, and habitat for diverse birds, mammals, and native plants.