The Georgia Guidestones, (sculpture).

The Georgia Guidestones, (sculpture).

Christian, R. C., designer. (attributed to)

Bradford, Horace, stone cutter.

Bradford, Frank, stone cutter.

Clamp, Charles, stone cutter.

Elberton Granite Finishing Corporation, fabricator.

Oglesby Blue Granite Quarry, fabricator.

Pyramid Blue Granite Quarry, fabricator.

Reynolds Marble & Granite Company, contractor.

The Georgia Guidestones, (sculpture).

America's Stonehenge, (sculpture).

Guidestones Monument, (sculpture).

Guidestones Memorial, (sculpture)

Dedicated March 22, 1980.

Sculpture: Elberton pyramid blue granite; Foundation: reinforced Elberton pyramid blue granite.

Overall: approx. 19 ft. 3 in. x 17 ft. 4 in. x 11 ft. 5 in., Diam. 65 ft. (119 tons).

(Bottom right corner of each of main stones of sculpture:) EGA (Inscribed on eight surfaces of sculpture in Russian, Chinese, English, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Swahili, and Hindi, in sandblasted, incised lettering:) Maintain humanity under 500,000,00 in perpetual balance with nature./Guide reproduction wisely--improving fitness and diversity./Unite humanity with a living new language./Rule passion, faith, tradition and all things tempered reason./Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts./Let all nations rule internally resolving disputes in a world court./Avoid petty laws and useless officials./Balance personal rights with social duties./Prize truth, beauty, love, seeking harmony with the infinite./Be not a cancer on the earth--leave room for nature--leave room for nature. unsigned

Six large monoliths, that in configuration resemble Stonehenge. Four large slabs turned outward are arranged with a central or "gnomon" stone, arranged like a giant paddlewheel with the outer stones oriented to the orbit of the moon during the year. The center stone is marked and has holes drilled in it so that the sun's rays mark the time of day and the seasons of the year. Also, the North Star is visible through a special slot in the center stone. The four outer stones have ten guides or maxims espousing population control and other conservation messages in 12 languages. The stones are topped by an inscribed capstone and set on a foundation of granite and reinforcing steel.

Outdoor Sculpture -- Georgia -- Elberton

Administered by Elbert County, South Oliver Street, Elberton, Georgia 30635

Located Highway 77, adjacent to Double 7 Farm, 7.2 miles north of Elberton, Elberton, Georgia

The concept for the monument was presented in 1979 to the Joe H. Fendley, Sr., President of the Elberton Granite Finishing Corporation, by "R. C. Christian," a pseudonym for a man who wished to remain anonymous. He represented a group of conservation-minded sponsors, a small group of Americans living outside of Georgia who wished also to remain anonymous, who had planned the monument for ten years. The group funded the monument, which cost in excess of $50,000, and also supplied the text of the maxim guides. The site of the monument was selected because it is the highest point in Elbert County, with eastern and western views. An astronomer was consulted to assist with the placement of the stones. The last piece of the monument was set in place on March 12, 1980. The stone was quarried at the Pyramid Blue Granite Quarry and fabricated by Oglesby Blue Granite Quarry. The sculpture is patented.

Reynolds Marble & Granite Company was responsible for wire-sawing the monument. For additional information see: R. C. Christian's "Common Sense," Lake Mills, IA: Stoyles Graphic Services, 1986. IAS files contain a partial transcription of two of the non-English transcriptions on the monument; and a partial transcription of text found on the granite slab marker in front of the monument. IAS files contain a pamphlet by the Elberton Finishing Corporation entitled "The Georgia Guidestones;" and excerpts from the "Elbert County Bicentennial Commemorate Book," 1990, pg. 21; Brown's Guide to Georgia (Aug. 1980), pg. 59-63; and Brown's Guide to Georgia (Oct. 1980), pg. 4.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Georgia survey, 1993.

Brown's Guide to Georgia (Aug. 1980), pg. 59.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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