The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) has been recognized for its donation of 136 acres to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This land, located within the Ocmulgee River corridor, was historically occupied by the Muscogee (Creek) people before their forced removal during the Trail of Tears. Acquired by Georgia DOT in 1998 for wetland mitigation related to the Fall Line Freeway in Twiggs County, the land has remained undeveloped.
Jacob Collins, Tribal Liaison with the National Park Service, presented a plaque to State Transportation Board chair Ann R. Purcell and board members Cathy Williams and Tim Golden at a State Transportation Board meeting on July 17. Collins expressed appreciation for Georgia DOT’s contribution, stating, “This gift is more than acreage, and represents the preservation of sacred ground.”
Purcell responded by acknowledging the efforts of Georgia DOT employees: “I have to recognize our whole Georgia DOT family because without them this would have never happened.” The donation supports ongoing expansion efforts at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and aims to secure its designation as Georgia’s first national park and preserve.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon preserves thousands of years of human history and holds cultural significance for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other Indigenous peoples. The transfer reflects collaboration between Georgia DOT, the National Park Service, and tribal leaders dedicated to protecting ancestral lands.
Georgia Department of Transportation is responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining state and federal highways in Georgia. The department is committed to innovation, safety, sustainability, and mobility across various transportation programs.
Information from this article can be found here.
