April 2023

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park preserves and interprets ancient Native American remains. These civilizations thrived in the region for thousands of years.  It is centered around a complex of prehistoric earthwork mounds built by various Native American cultures, primarily the Mississippian people. Many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American Indians first came here during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and people constructed mounds for their elite, which remain here today.

Local citizens purchased this property along the Ocmulgee River and donated it to the federal government; President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument in 1936. During that period, the government led large-scale archaeological digs. They collected more than 2 million artifacts. Some of these artifacts are thousands of years older than the pyramids in Egypt.

This place of 17,000 years of human history has been described by Conde Nast Traveler as a “2,000-acre time capsule”! It was initially a national monument, now a National Historical Park, and it may just be our nation’s 64th National Park soon (perhaps 2023!)!  In addition to the millennia of human history, those pushing for the National Park designation say that this place is worthy of National Park status because it still has a key ingredient in our iconic parks — natural beauty.

The Muscogee (Creek) people are the ancestors of the Mississippian mound builders behind the park’s historical attractions. They were forced off their southeastern U.S. homeland, including the sacred Ocmulgee Mounds area, as part of the Indian Removal Act of the 1800s. Like the country itself, our national parks are full of lands taken from Native Americans. They now live in Oklahoma. However, hundreds of Muscogee people make pilgrimages to the park yearly. They go “to experience the feeling of returning to our homeland,” he says.

The Visitor Center and Museum offer insights into the history. They also explore the culture of the Native American peoples who once inhabited the area. The museum displays artifacts and interactive displays to describe the site’s significance.

These artificial mounds were built between 900 and 1100. Mississippian builders crafted them out of dirt and clay. They were part of Native American villages which included public buildings, homes, and temples.

Earth Lodge: One of the main attractions is the reconstructed Earth Lodge, a massive ceremonial structure built around 1015 CE. It is an impressive example of the architecture and engineering skills of the Mississippian people.

Great Temple Mound: The Great Temple Mound is the largest and most prominent mound, standing approximately 56 feet high. It is believed to have had ceremonial and religious significance for the ancient inhabitants. A masterpiece that required an estimated 10 million baskets of dirt, a staircase led us to a great view.

Lesser Mounds: Several smaller mounds are used throughout the park. They serve various purposes. For example, they are used as residential areas or as supporting structures for essential buildings.