Ocmulgee << ohk MUHL gee >> Mounds National Historical Park, in the state of Georgia, is home to the most important prehistoric Native American mounds discovered in the southeastern United States. Artifacts have been found in the park dating to 10,000 B.C. Artifacts are objects made by human hands. The mounds were built much later, beginning around A.D. 900. Ocmulgee Mounds was first established as a national monument in 1936. It was designated a national historical park in 2019. For area, see National Park System (table: National historical parks).
The park lies along the Ocmulgee River at the Fall Line, where the hilly Piedmont region gives way to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The mounds were built upon the Macon Plateau. The park also includes dunes, forests, plains, and swamps and other wetlands.
One of the park’s most popular attractions is the Great Temple Mound. It is the largest of the park’s seven mounds, rising 55 feet (17 meters) tall. Another mound houses a restored council chamber, used by the original inhabitants for meetings and ceremonies. The park offers a variety of activities, including bird watching, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and guided tours. Other attractions in the park include the Ocmulgee River Heritage Greenway, which includes Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and the Walnut Creek Wetlands.
The park’s wetlands are home to many plant and animal species, including a variety of birds. The park protects the habitat of endangered animals and some that have historically been endangered, including the bald eagle.
