Atlanta Day 6: Stone Mountain – Museum

We decided to spend day 6 visiting Georgia’ number 1 attraction, Stone Mountain Park.

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The view of the Stone Mountain is described as majestic. The parking lot was pretty empty as the theme park is already closed for the season.

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The Confederate Memorial Carving on Georgia’s Stone Mountain.

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The Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three southern heroes of the Civil War; Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

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The figures measure 90 by 190 feet, surrounded by a carved surface that is larger than a football field. This carving is the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world.

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We then went into the museum to learn more about the carving. The entrance to the museum together with entrance to the Antebellum Plantation was USD12/person.

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This is the life size replica of the most photographed portion of the carvving.

The carving took 60 years to complete. The idea started in 1909. Gutzon Borglum started the project in 1917. Borglum is best known for his later work at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.  World War I delayed the work. In 1925, Borglum abandoned the project due to funding dispute.

Augustus Lukeman was hired to complete the carving with a new design as Borglum had destroyed his models. Work was further delayed in 1928 due to the owner of the mountain refused to renew the lease of the mountain. World World II interrupted all plans for completion of the memorial.

Walker Hancock was announced as the new sculptor in 1963 after the state of Georgia purchased the mountain in 1958.

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Artifacts of aboriginal people of Georgia being displayed in the museum.

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Civil War exhibits.

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A Confederate hat.

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A model of the Stone Mountain Park.

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Other memorials.

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This 732 bell Carillon was exhibited at the 1964 World’s Fair.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. etranger

    Have you ever been to Mt. Rushmore / Yellowstone? It is a two day drive from Vancouver to West Yellowstone, then another day to drive to Mt Rushmore. You need six or seven days to see everything in the parks, so it is a 12-14 day road trip. It’s worth it!

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