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NewsThe Georgia Guidestones, an enigmatic granite monument, stood tall in Elbert County for over four decades before its destruction in 2022. Conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones alleged connections to Satanism, fueling controversy around this peculiar structure.
The American Stonehenge, as it was dubbed, contained inscribed guidelines for rebuilding civilization after an apocalyptic event. Its mysterious origins and provocative messages captivated public imagination until a bombing ultimately led to its demolition.
In June 1979, a man using the pseudonym Robert C. Christian approached the Elberton Granite Finishing Company on behalf of “a small group of loyal Americans” and commissioned the structure. Christian explained that the stones would function as a compass, calendar, and clock, capable of withstanding catastrophic events. He drew inspiration from the British Neolithic monument Stonehenge, aiming to create a granite monument that would rival it while conveying a message.
On March 22, 1980, the monument was unveiled by Congressman Doug Barnard before an audience of 200-300 people. At the unveiling, the Master of Ceremonies read a message stating the sponsors’ belief in their precepts and that they must stand on their own merits.
The Georgia Guidestones consisted of four massive blue granite slabs, a center stone (Gnomen stone), and a capstone. When completed, the monolithic structure weighed 119 tons and contained 951 cubic feet of granite, supporting over 4,000 sandblasted characters and letters averaging four inches in height.
The inscriptions on the capstone read “Let these be guidestones to an age of reason” in Babylonian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Sanskrit, and classical Greek. The four granite slabs listed ten “guides” for mankind in eight languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili, covering governance, population control, the environment, and spirituality.
Christian later transferred ownership of the land and the guidestones to Elbert County. By 1981, barbed wire fencing was erected around the monument to prevent cattle from using it as a scratching post.
The Georgia Guidestones sparked intense public scrutiny and fueled numerous conspiracy theories due to their cryptic messages and enigmatic origins. The controversy surrounding the monument began even before its unveiling, with some locals referring to its construction as “the devil’s work.” A local minister warned that “occult groups” would visit the site, fearing an imminent sacrifice.
The rich variety of interpretations evoked by the Guidestones caused much controversy and debate to swirl around the hidden or intended meanings of the messages. The monument had been vandalized several times before its destruction and was the subject of various conspiracy theories, particularly those concerned with its prescriptions for population control and internationalism. One part called for keeping the world population at 500 million or below, while another called to “guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity,” which some interpreted as a promotion of eugenics.
Conspiracy theorists like Jay Weidner and Mark Dice alleged that the pseudonym “R.C. Christian” resembled “Christian Rosenkreuz,” the founder of the Rosicrucian Order, suggesting a connection to occult practices. They also drew parallels between the writing on the capstone and Thomas Paine’s “The Age of Reason,” fueling claims of a “Satanic origin.” Kandiss Taylor, a Republican candidate for Georgia governor in 2022, labeled the Guidestones “Satanic” and vowed to demolish them via executive order if elected, renewing interest among evangelical Christians and fringe conspiracy theorists.
Around 4 a.m. on July 6, 2022, an explosive device was detonated at the base of the georgia guidestones, demolishing one of the 19-foot-tall granite slabs. The bombing was captured on surveillance cameras, showing a person approaching the monument, placing an object, and fleeing the scene in a silver sedan.
The bombing incident came amidst growing controversy surrounding the georgia guidestones, with fringe groups and individuals, like Republican gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor, labeling the monument as “Satanic” and calling for its demolition. Taylor’s campaign video denouncing the guidestones as “statues to their own gods” is believed to have fueled the sentiments that led to the attack.
In the aftermath of the initial explosion, authorities decided to dismantle the remaining slabs for safety reasons, using a backhoe to bring down the enigmatic structure that had stood for over four decades.
The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), launched an investigation into the bombing. The GBI released surveillance footage of the explosion and the vehicle of interest leaving the scene, but no suspects have been publicly identified, and the motive remains unclear.
Local prosecutors suggested that the bombing could carry a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, as the guidestones were maintained by the county and considered a public building. The residents of Elberton were left to pick up the pieces, both literally and metaphorically, after the destruction of the controversial monument.
Initially, plans were announced to rebuild the georgia guidestones exactly as they were, but later, the Elberton city council voted to return the land to its previous owner and hand over the remains to the Elberton Granite Association, expressing doubt about the monument’s reconstruction.
The fate of the georgia guidestones site remains uncertain in the aftermath of the bombing incident. While initial plans were announced to rebuild the monument exactly as it stood, the Elberton city council later voted to return the land to its previous owner and hand over the remains to the Elberton Granite Association.
The bombing and subsequent demolition of the guidestones have left the residents of Elberton grappling with the loss of a significant part of their community’s legacy. Rose Scoggins, editor of the Elberton Star, expressed concern over the potential decline in tourism, which had been a major draw for the town. Beyond the economic impact, the monument held a deeper meaning for the local granite industry and its workers, whose craftsmanship was embodied in the massive structure.
While the Elberton Granite Association and the city council have expressed doubt about rebuilding the georgia guidestones, they remain hopeful that a group may come together to undertake the project. Vaughn, a representative of the association, stated that there have been offers of monetary donations and in-kind work from granite manufacturers and quarry owners willing to contribute materials and labor to reconstruct the monument at no cost.
However, the decision to rebuild ultimately lies with the city, as Kubas, another representative, acknowledged that Elberton would likely be interested in having the guidestones rebuilt due to their significant tourism draw. The conversation surrounding the restoration plans is expected to continue, with the city being the most probable entity to spearhead the effort, should it materialize.
The Georgia Guidestones were an enigmatic and controversial monument that captured the public’s imagination for over four decades. Its cryptic messages, alleged occult connections, and emphasis on population control fueled intense debates and conspiracy theories, making it a polarizing structure. The recent bombing and subsequent demolition have left a void in the Elberton community, raising questions about the potential reconstruction of this granite marvel.
While the future of the site remains uncertain, the Georgia Guidestones have left an indelible mark on the local granite industry and tourism landscape. As the dust settles from their destruction, the community grapples with preserving its legacy while considering the broader implications of rebuilding a structure that attracted both admiration and criticism. The fate of the Guidestones’ remains a topic of ongoing discussion, reflecting the enduring fascination and divisiveness surrounding this peculiar monument.
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