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Do You Know Georgia May Be Getting Its First National Park? All About The 12,000-YO Historic Park

There are currently talks to declare it as a national park with more land.

by Tejashee Kashyap
Do You Know Georgia May Be Getting Its First National Park? All About The 12,000-YO Historic Park

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, located in central Georgia near the city of Macon, encapsulates a profound historical narrative. Spanning over 17,000 years of human habitation, it is a diverse array of archaeological features, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage sites. There are currently talks to declare it as a national park with more land.

Georgia’s First National Park?

For the Muscogee (Creek) people, like Revis, who resided here before being forced to relocate to Oklahoma via the Trail of Tears, the park has a particular meaning. With a nod to the Georgia location, Okmulgee serves as the capital of the tribal land. Since 1936, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared 678 acres under the Antiquities Act, the Ocmulgee Mounds have been preserved. The greatest archaeological dig in American history took place there as well, yielding artefacts from the earliest days of civilization, many of which are currently on show in the park’s museum. The park offers visitors a window into the complexities of indigenous life and the enduring legacy of Native American cultures in the southeastern United States. If approved, it will be the first national park in the United States to be co-managed by a removed tribe.

Although Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park presently occupies more than 600 acres, more land has been acquired. Future expansion is predicted to bring it to over 2,000 acres, which will include hunting territory along the Ocmulgee River.

Also Read: This NGO Has Been Empowering Women Displaced By Ranthambore National Park, Preserving Crafts & Community

How To Reach?

Macon, Georgia, is located roughly two hours south of Atlanta. The simplest method to get there is by car, although there are other options as well. For example, Greyhound offers a bus route that connects the two cities. It should take you less than ten minutes to get to Ocmulgee Mounds by taxi or ride-sharing service from the Macon bus station on 5th Street. The best season to visit is spring when the weather is pleasant but there is a chance of unexpected storms and flooding. The yearly Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration, which takes place in September and features dances, crafts, and informative talks, is another fantastic time to come.

Beyond the archaeological wonders of the mounds themselves, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park boasts a diverse array of natural habitats and ecosystems, including riverine forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

Cover image credits: Wikimedia Commons