When it comes to Georgia state parks, Stone Mountain stands tall as a beautiful landmark. Along with all that beauty is quite a bit of history, some of it pretty incredible.
Here are five fascinating and lesser-known facts or stories about Stone Mountain, Georgia, that highlight its complex history and unique characteristics.
1. The Confederate Carving’s Controversial Creation
The massive bas-relief carving on Stone Mountain, depicting Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson, is the largest of its kind in the world, spanning three acres.
Initiated in 1916 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the project faced decades of delays, funding issues, and sculptor disputes. Gutzon Borglum, who later carved Mount Rushmore, started the work but abandoned it after clashing with organizers.
The carving wasn’t completed until 1972, amid civil rights tensions, making it a lightning rod for debates about Confederate symbolism. Its prominence has sparked ongoing calls for removal or reinterpretation, with some suggesting adding figures like Martin Luther King Jr. to recontextualize the site.
2. Birthplace of the Second Ku Klux Klan
In 1915, Stone Mountain was the site of the infamous revival of the Ku Klux Klan. William J. Simmons, inspired by the film Birth of a Nation, organized a cross-burning ceremony atop the mountain on Thanksgiving night, marking the rebirth of the KKK.
This event cemented Stone Mountain’s association with white supremacist history, as the group later held meetings and rituals there.
The mountain’s granite was even quarried for the steps of the U.S. Capitol, creating an ironic contrast between its natural beauty and its darker historical ties.
3. Stone Mountain Is a Geological Marvel
Stone Mountain is a geological anomaly known as a monadnock, a massive granite dome rising 825 feet above the surrounding area and covering 583 acres.
Formed 300 million years ago from magma cooling beneath the Earth’s surface, it’s one of the largest exposed granite formations in the world.
Its unique quartz monzonite composition has made it a quarry source for centuries, and its durability is why it was chosen for the Confederate carving.
The mountain’s summit also features rare plant species, like the endemic Stone Mountain daisy, thriving in its harsh, rocky environment.
4. Theme Park with a Complicated Past
Stone Mountain Park, now a popular family destination with attractions like a laser show and skyride, was explicitly developed to celebrate Confederate heritage. In the 1950s, the state of Georgia purchased the mountain, partly to preserve the carving project as a “shrine to the South.”
Over time, the park evolved to include more inclusive attractions, but its Confederate-themed elements, like the carving and street names honoring Confederate figures, remain contentious.
In 2021, the park’s leadership began re-evaluating its historical displays, removing some Confederate flags and adding educational exhibits to address the site’s complex legacy.
5. The Lost Village of Stone Mountain
Before the mountain became a tourist destination, it was home to a small, self-sufficient community in the 19th century.
The village of Stone Mountain, located at the base, thrived on granite quarrying and farming. However, during the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman’s troops burned parts of the village during their March to the Sea in 1864, targeting its railroad and industrial resources.
Remnants of this community, including old quarry sites and historical markers, are still visible in the park, offering a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of the area’s history.
These stories reflect Stone Mountain’s layered past, from its geological uniqueness to its role as a flashpoint in cultural and historical debates.
Final Word
There continues to be ongoing local sentiment about the mountain’s symbolism, with some calling for its preservation as history and others advocating for change to reflect modern values.
How do you feel about Stone Mountain? Let me know in the comments.
Looking for some fun in Georgia? First, to find all the cool things happening in Atlanta this weekend, all you have to do is take a look at downtown area. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown Atlanta often has something cool going on! Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:
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Stone Mountain and the beautiful park around it are a treasure for us to see and enjoy. I live in nearby Snellville and like to go there for a relaxing day and drive through the covered bridge built by Washington B. King. This led to a deep dive into history and found out about his famous father, Horace King and his creation of Big Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge – built by him in the 1880s using 2500 hand hewed wooden pegs to hold it together! And you can still drive through this engineering marvel!
These two covered bridges started my quest to see all 13 covered bridges in Georgia. I’ve seen 9 so far – amazing!!