Macon’s Ocmulgee Mounds named one of world’s top destinations to visit by Time magazine

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park in Macon was named one Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025.

Time recognized Macon-Bibb County’s efforts to preserve and build cultural ties with the Muscogee Creek Nation, the tribe which built the mounds before being displaced to Oklahoma in 1836.

“The mounds ... (include) a distinctive spiral mound, a restored Earth Lodge where tribal meetings occurred and a labyrinth of walking trails,” Time said Thursday.

The magazine also applauded Macon’s recently installed downtown bilingual street signs that read in English and Muscogee.

The list honors the world’s top 100 international hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks and more. Each entity submitted an application, then a network of correspondents helped compile the list.

Georgia’s “human occupation dates back to at least 17,000 years — when the original Mississippian people arrived after the last Ice Age and occupied the area for millennia,” Time said.

This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 10:45 AM.