Stone from the quarries was used in construction around the world. It can be found at the Georgia Capital, the U. Capital, Fort Knox, and the Panama Canal.
Frank Lloyd Wright used it to build the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, one of the few buildings to survive Japan's earthquake. The Songbird Habitat was the site for the archery and cycling competition for the Olympics. Mabel Sharp has been the carillonneur for over thirty years. The Summit Skyride was used to carry the Olympic Torch to the summit in The Lasershow is the longest-running laser show in the world at over thirty years. Its image is five times larger than an IMAX screen. The Stone Mountain Inn was built with no rooms having windows facing the mountain.
Venable himself, who was part of the ceremony, quickly rose through the ranks of the KKK, allowing the group regular use of his grounds.
At one point, Borglum considered including the KKK in his monument at the prompting of Plane, who wrote :.
Since seeing this wonderful and beautiful picture of Reconstruction in the South, I feel that it is due to the Ku Klux Klan which saved us from Negro domination and carpet-bag rule, that it be immortalized on Stone Mountain. Why not represent a small group of them in their nightly uniform approaching in the distance? Although Borglum ultimately declined to include the figures in his carving, he agreed the KKK should have some recognition in the memorial, perhaps in a room carved out of the mountain.
But none of his plans were destined to be achieved. Wherever the group popped up , acts of terror committed against innocent African-Americans, Catholics and immigrants were sure to follow. With only three years to go before the land deed from the Venables was set to expire they had granted 12 years to finish the memorial , a second sculptor was brought in.
But Augustus Lukeman barely had time to remove the work Borglum had done and start work on a carving of three figures on horseback when he was forced to abandon the project in The deed expired, the Venable family took back their property, and the mountain remained untouched for 36 years.
But with the Brown v. Board of Education decision that segregated schools were unconstitutional, and the growing influence of the Civil Rights Movement, the time had come for renewed action. He then made the Stone Mountain Memorial Association a state authority , meaning the governor would appoint the board of directors but the association would receive no tax dollars. After Walter Kirkland Hancock was chosen to lead the sculpting efforts, work resumed in after a nearlyyear hiatus.
The memorial became the largest high relief sculpture in the world, depicting Davis, Lee and Jackson on horseback, their figures stretched across three acres. Today, with 4 million visitors coming to the park each year, the mountain has changed little but the message has shifted. While nature and the memorial are still featured, its theme-park attractions include a 4-D movie theater, a farmyard, miniature golf, a dinosaur-themed playground and more.
A major problem with Stone Mountain is the formal, triumphant view of the sculpture, making the entire park a celebration of white supremacy. Elimination of this view will also mean the end of the laser-light show — consider a replacement event that similarly draws people together, but instead around new symbols of peace and justice. Eliminate any other remaining references to the Confederacy. These are not protected by the law. Conduct a quick re-evaluation of all the names, signage, narrative, flags and iconography throughout the park and remove all problematic references, including the names of streets and lakes, programming and online content.
Acknowledging the somber weight of history here, this should also include removal of the theme-park activities below the sculpture. Begin a dialogue for more sweeping changes at the park that will inspire required changes to state law. Consider an international design competition that refocuses the 3,acre park around its namesake geological feature and transforms it into a new symbol of peace and reconciliation.
These proposed changes will not be enough. They are only a start, and only small part of a larger effort to ensure that the design and use of public land and public spaces reflect our highest values, and that those values actually shape the laws that regulate our land.
We have this fleeting opportunity to try to make it happen now, and to tell our children we stood up to hate. Ryan Gravel , urban designer and author in Atlanta ryangravel on Twitter and Instagram ; with collaborator Scott Morris , historian. This article is more than 1 year old.
First, some context and history. Stone Mountain: is it time to remove America's biggest Confederate memorial? Read more.
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