Georgia Guidestones

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Category: Places

What are the Georgia Guidestones? And who was behind their construction? Whose message do they bear? And why all those languages, including the ancient four? For all who have discovered this weird, serene monument, it raises more questions than answers.

I first heard of the guidestonesin 1981 while excavating Fort Independence—the site of perhaps the smallest battle of the Revolutionary War—the sole casualty a horse. Although Fort Independence is located in South Carolina along the Savannah river (don't try to visit: it's currently lying at the bottom of Russell Lake—the reason for our excavation), we found it most convenient to maintain quarters in Elberton, Georgia. Elberton, then as now, is known as the granite capital of Georgia if not the U.S., so it was inevitable that I'd hear about the strange granite construction a few miles up highway 77 toward Hartwell. Immediately, I drove out to see it.

The guidestones stand at the top of a hill—the highest point in Elbert County—in the midst of grazing fields, guarded by a few wary cows. As you approach, the stones get bigger and bigger, until it dawns on you how huge they really are. We're talking hunks of granite larger than those at Stonehenge. The five upright monoliths stand 16 feet tall and weigh—well, a lot! The total weight of all the stones is over 230,000 lbs.

One of the first things you notice is that ten instructions or commandments are carved into the upright stones; and their message, evidently, is the monument's raison d'etre. They are presented not just in English, but repeated in seven other languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Swahili. And at the top, on the capstone, in four ancient languages (Ancient Greek, Hieroglyphics, Cuneiform, Sanskrit), it says, Let these be guidestones to an age of reason. The message itself (transcribed below) appears to be a mixture of eugenics, mild humanism and environmentalism, with a dose of libertarianism thrown in for good measure.

The stones are oriented, like Stonehenge, with celestial bodies in mind. A hole bored through the central pillar focuses on Polaris, the north star. Another opening faces the Eastern and Western horizons where the sun rises and sets at the spring and autumn equinoxes. A hole in the capstone lets sunlight pass through at noon onto the spot you must stand to see Polaris (but of course, the only star you'll see at noon is called Sol).

One of the great mysteries is who is behind this? Who put it here? All we know is that a man using the pseudonym R. C. Christian, claiming to represent some unspecified organization, approached one of the granite companies in Elberton and commissioned the guidestones, on condition of anonymity. Originally our mystery man wanted it placed in Burke County many miles to the South, but officials with the granite company managed to convince him that lugging 230,000 lbs of granite such a distance would be prohibitively expensive. So here it has stood since its unveiling at the Spring equinox in 1980, overlooking grazing cattle and pretty countryside.

Since then, sundry groups and individuals have come as if to a shrine, to worship or to reason, or simply to enjoy the windblown serenity of this remote hillside guarded by cows and a few great stones.

The following ten "guidelines" are etched on the megaliths:

Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 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 with tempered reason. 
Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts. 
Let all nations rule internally resolving external 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.

Links of Interest Related to the Guidestones:

• BRETTNews' American Odyessy. On Day 16 of his travels, Brett describes his visit to the Guidestones.
• The PeaceRun visits the Guidestones. Another visitor's impression of Elberton, GA and the Guidestones.
• Are the Guidestones really the Ten Commandments of the Anti-Christ? Yes, says Reagan (the minister, that is, not the former President).

In Georgia:

• Roadside America: Georgia. Interesting roadside attractions in the state of Georgia
• Georgia SuperSites. A list of interesting places in Georgia compiled by Mike Reader.
• Richard B. Russell State Park & Lake Hartwell State Park (places to stay if visiting the Guidestones).
• Learn about other North Georgia Parks and Historical Sites.

In Europe:

• A guide megaliths and other interesting archaeological sites England, Ireland, and Scotland can be found at Stone Pages.

In North America:

• Roadside America: America Unhenged. Stonehenge imitations in the U.S.
• Stonehenge Clones and Metaphorms. A listing with photos of various Stonehenge clones and related structures.
• The Missouri Megalith. Stonehence replica erected in 1984 at UMR (University of Missouri-Rolla) using Elberton granite to show off new waterjet stone-cutting technology.
• UMR's List of Stonehenge imitations in the U.S.