This Historic Native American Mound In Georgia May Be Home To The Next National Park

The designations within the National Park System can get a little complicated. While we have National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Seashores, and other National Park Service-managed sites, we don't have any official national parks in Georgia. The designation is reserved for large swaths of preserved land that don't allow activities like hunting or mining. There are currently 63 national parks in the United States, located across 31 states and two U.S. territories. Parks are added and re-categorized fairly often, so it is possible that one day we'll see a national park in the Peach State. There are several candidates that could receive this illustrious designation, but the one that seems the most likely is the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon.

The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park encompasses over 3,300 acres and preserves a multitude of Native American artifacts. The most notable features here are the mounds that give the park its name.

These massive earthworks were built around 1000 CE by the Appalachian Mississippian culture. There are ceremonial mounds, burial grounds, and defensive trenches that can be seen here.

The visitor center here has a great archaeology museum displaying some of the artifacts that have been excavated from the mounds.

You'll find several lodge reconstructions and other dioramas at the park that will make you feel like you are stepping back in time a few thousand years.

There are steps on the Great Temple Mound that allow you to climb atop this magnificent earthen structure to get a view of the surrounding area. This 55-foot tall mound is where the village chief lived.

This place is such a fascinating look back in history and we're hopeful that it will one day be recognized as the first national park in Georgia.

For more information about the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, check out the National Park Service website.