MACON, Ga. -- The National Trust for Historic Preservation is urging Middle Georgians to support the re-designation of Ocmulgee National Monument as a National Historic Park.

The 702-acre monument was dedicated in 1934 and is considered sacred to the Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Tribes. Lands around the monument were inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years, and the Muscogee Creek define the area as "the place where we first sat down."

The National Trust is asking the community to sign a petition that would re-designate the monument.

"With the National Park part of the name, more visitors will say 'Hey that is part of the National Park Service' and that will draw more visitors here. Of course, the more visitors that come to Macon, that's a good economic impact for the city and of course when more visitors come here they spend more money in the gas stations, the hotels, etc. and bring more money to the town," said Jim David with Ocmulgee national Monument.

The monument was previously designated as a National Treasure in 2016 and the National Trust named it as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2003.

The National Trust says that expanding the monument's boundaries would help protect heritage and archaeological sties that currently sit outside of it while supporting tourism to Middle Georgia.

https://wgxa.tv/news/local/middle-georgians-urged-to-support-re-designation-of-ocmulgee-national-monument