At the confluence of Walnut Creek and the Ocmulgee River lies Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Bibb County. The park reflects more than 12,000 years of continuous human habitation. Its mounds and historic buildings offer tangible points of reference to this long history.
Discover History and Culture
The Great Temple Mound is the largest mound in the park and stands 55 feet tall. The Earth Lodge reveals another aspect of the site: it served as a council chamber for the Mississippian Culture (900–1600). A great mound and a building with a communal purpose thus stand side by side. Visitors interested in early cultures will find both a striking earthwork and a place whose use is documented.
Museums also offer different ways to explore history and culture. The Tubman Museum is the largest museum in the southeastern United States dedicated to African American art, history, and culture. Its permanent exhibitions include Black Inventors. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame focuses on something different: more than 14,000 square feet of exhibition space are designed to be interactive and energetic. Its Hall of Fame Corridor honors more than 400 inductees.
Historic buildings include Hay House, an 18,000-square-foot mansion in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and a National Historic Landmark. Inside are 18th-century furnishings, Italian Carrara marble fireplaces, and stained glass. The Cannonball House was built in 1853 as the townhouse of a plantation owner. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an example of authentic Greek Revival architecture.
Rose Hill Cemetery brings together a landscape-scale setting and history: the cemetery covers 50 acres and was founded in 1840. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those laid to rest there include musicians from the Allman Brothers Band and 600 Civil War soldiers.
Trails, River Landscapes, and Water
At Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, eight miles of trails pass seven historic mounds and wind through wetlands and woodlands. The Ocmulgee Heritage Trail offers another way to explore historic sites: it leads to landmarks such as Ocmulgee National Monument, Historic Rose Hill Cemetery, and Macon's original waterworks. This riverside trail network with parks is located in Middle Georgia and is suitable for walking, cycling, boating, and birdwatching. The trail is accessible from Interstates 16 and 75 and from downtown Macon.
Amerson River Park offers a different landscape. Its 180 acres include woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, and a river oxbow surrounds the park. Seven miles of trails are available for walking, cycling, and running. Lake Tobesofkee lies on Tobesofkee Creek in Macon-Bibb County. It covers nearly 1,800 acres and has 35 miles of shoreline. Activities there include swimming, fishing, boating, camping, water skiing, sailing, and pickleball. You can consider nature trails, historic routes, and a wide range of waterside activities as different focuses for your trip.
More to Discover in Macon
The Museum of Arts and Sciences is the largest general-interest museum in Georgia. Offerings include planetarium shows and live animal experiences; program details may change. Check the latest information before your visit.
Music history takes center stage at the Big House Museum. It is located in the former residence where members of the Allman Brothers Band, along with their families, friends, and roadies, lived, worked, and spent time from 1970 to 1973. The museum displays an extensive collection of band memorabilia and artifacts. It is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Macon, Jackson County, Hart County, Fulton, Tattnall County, Colquitt County, Catoosa, Thomas County.
For the main travel overview: Georgia.
