Macon: Ocmulgee National Monument brings tourism, history to Macon
MACON, Ga. -- Macon is home to many attractions that bring in tourists as well as locals.
Year in and year out the top draw is the Ocmulgee National Monument, an attraction that has been in Macon for centuries.
The monument has history shaped by Native Americans.
"Historically, this area was settled by the Muscogee Creek Nation and we still deal with that Native tribe because, according to their oral history, this is where they first settled as a Nation," said Jim David of the Ocmulgee National Monument.
David said the site's artifacts show just how long people have used the land.
"There are very few places in the country that can prove they have been used for the period of time this one has been," he said. "Because with the archaeological work done here in the 1930s, we can prove this area has been used since the Ice Age."
Visitors like Mike Sorenson say they are impressed with what tribes built with no modern machinery.
"When you see what they managed to do in the past with nothing but sheer determination and muscle power it's amazing--something we've kind of forgotten," Sorenson said.
Supporters are pushing for a plan to expand the park from just over 700 acres to 3,000 acres.
Ocmulgee National Monument brings in many people each year.
"Brings in a lot of visitors and they help bring in funds," David said. "We did an economic impact study and Ocmulgee last year had a $6 milion economic impact on Macon."