Hidden Histories, Historical Marker Resource

Colonial Trading Path

1. Entrance to the Earth Lodge. Photograph by author. April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Ocmulgee National Monument.

This Hidden History was created by SCAD student Dana Wagner as part of her SCAD art history department coursework, with guidance from art history professor Holly Goldstein, Ph.D., 2019.

The Colonial Trading Path historical marker was dedicated in 1984. View the Colonial Trading Path historical marker listing.

Gallery

Illustrations

Figure 1: Entrance to the Earth Lodge. Photograph by author. April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Ocmulgee National Monument.

Figure 2: Earth Lodge Bird Effigy. Photograph by author. April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Ocmulgee National Monument.

Figure 3: Excavation of Trading Post Stockade. From National Park Service Historical Handbook 24 by G. D. Pope, Jr. 1956.

Figure 4: Map of Creek Cession in 1814. From “Summer 1814: The Treaty of Ft. Jackson ends the Creek War” by Kathryn Braund, Auburn University. Last modified: August 15, 2017. Courtesy of the National Park Service.

Figure 5: Early Excavation of the Earth Lodge. From National Park Service Historical Handbook 24 by G. D. Pope, Jr. 1956.

Figure 6: Creek Pottery Reproduction. Photograph by author. April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Ocmulgee National Monument.

Figure 7: Artifacts uncovered at Ocmulgee. Photograph by author. April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Ocmulgee National Monument.

Figure 8: 1955 Map of Ocmulgee National Monument. From National Park Service Historical Handbook 24 by G. D. Pope, Jr. 1956.

Figure 9: Ocmulgee Mounds. Collage by author and Malaia Esposito. Completed May 1, 2019.

Figure 10: Ocmulgee National Monument Commemorative Guide. Designed and Illustrated by author, Dana Wagner. Completed May 26, 2019.

Artist's Statement

Ancient cultures have always been an area of interest to me, and as a child I often had opportunities to learn about ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Mesopotamians. However, the indigenous cultures native to North America were poorly represented in comparison. The initiating force of this research was my desire to learn about the ancient ways of life that were practiced where I live, not in a distant country. In addition, this history is crucial to how we understand the history of European colonization of the Creeks, and how we structure our relationships with indigenous Americans today. As an illustrator and graphic designer, I designed a mock-up for a children’s educational pamphlet (Figure 10).

Colonial Trading Path

Hidden Histories, Historical Marker Resource

Colonial Trading Path

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Jepson House Education Center*

Research Center

Atlanta office*

Newsletter

Jepson House Education Center*

Research Center

Atlanta office*