About a half-hour outside of Atlanta, there’s a federally designated historic area you might not even realize exists.

It encompasses 40,000 acres – 65 square miles – in Rockdale, Henry, and DeKalb counties. And it’s called the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.

GPB’s Joshua Stewart talked with Mera Cardenas, executive director of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, to find out more about the history and culture of the area.

NOTE: See more about the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area on Georgia Outdoors premiering Friday, June 24 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 25 at 6 p.m.

Tags: Lithonia, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain, Flat Rock, Mera Cardenas, Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance