A trip to Macon offers different ways to explore history and culture: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park represents the prehistoric history of Indigenous cultures, while the Cannonball House is a city home associated with an event from the Civil War. Hay House makes an architectural statement, while the Tubman Museum focuses on African American art, history and culture. Hiking trails add views of hills, wetlands and forest landscapes to these themes. You can tailor your stay to the areas that interest you most.
Prehistoric History and Trails at Ocmulgee
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park is a prehistoric site of Indigenous cultures of the Americas, who inhabited this land for millennia. This long span of time differs from the individual historical events associated with the houses. In the park, the Great Temple Mound is the largest mound, standing 55 feet tall. Its name and height give this prominent part of the site a concrete point of reference for exploring its history.
The trails also offer a distinct perspective on the grounds: the park has 8 miles of hiking trails with views of seven historic mounds, as well as wetlands and forest landscapes. The figures describe different things—the height of the tallest mound and the length of the trail network. If you would like to make time for the outdoors as well as history, you can explore the mounds alongside views of varied landscapes. The trails are a focus in their own right, alongside learning about the prehistoric site.
A City Home, a Civil War Event and a Landmark
The Cannonball House was built in 1853 as a city home for a local plantation owner. Its history also includes a specific event from the Civil War: during the Battle of Dunlap Hill in 1864, a Union artillery shell pierced the front of the house and came to rest in its hallway without exploding. The combination of its construction history and a single wartime event gives the house a different historical focus from the prehistoric park.
At the Cannonball House, 45-minute tours include the main house, the brick kitchen and the servants’ areas. Check the current availability of tours before your trip. The duration provides a concrete reference point for planning, and the tour also takes you through several distinct areas of the house.
The Johnston-Felton-Hay House in Macon was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974. Hay House is an 18,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival-style residence, built for entrepreneur William Butler Johnston. Compared with the Cannonball House, the focus here is especially on architecture, size and its Landmark designation. The two houses thus offer different perspectives on history: one through its construction date and an event in 1864, the other through its architectural style and historic recognition.
Art, History and Culture at the Tubman Museum
The Tubman Museum is the largest museum in the southeastern United States dedicated to African American art, history and culture. One gallery is titled “From the Minds of African Americans” and focuses on African American inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs. The museum also displays authentic African art.
This gives the museum visit a different focus from the historic houses: the Tubman Museum centers on art, history and culture, while the Cannonball House and Hay House offer specific buildings and their respective histories. You can explore Macon according to a range of interests—from prehistoric mounds and hiking trails to the history of houses and African American culture and art.
For the overarching travel overview: Bibb.
