Discover the Top 13 Fascinating Fun Facts About Stone Mountain That Will Amaze You!

1. Geological Gem with a Dome

Gather 'round geology geeks and lovers of lumpy landscapes; it's time to introduce a mountain that rocks too big for its britches: Stone Mountain in Georgia not only boasts the title of the largest exposed chunk of granite, but it's also a geological gem with a dome-shaped center, formed over 300 million years ago alongside the famed Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. Hike the Walk-Up Trail, where you'll hobnob with rock formations, take a dip in rock pools, and marvel at Mother Nature's original hide-and-seek spot for trees and panoramic views at the summit.
Source => stonemountainpark.com

2. World's Largest Bas-Relief Sculpture

If the Confederate trio of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson decided to crash a mountain party, their wicked carving skills would surely leave a mark: Stone Mountain boasts the world's largest bas-relief sculpture, featuring these towering figures at a jaw-dropping 90 feet tall and 190 feet wide, standing as one of America's most impressive artworks.
Source => portside.org

Did you know the Appalachian Mountains once rivaled the Rockies and the Alps in height? Discover how Mother Nature transformed these towering giants over millions of years!

=> Fun Facts about The-Appalachian-Mountains

3. Krypton's Granite Rival

Forget Superman's Fortress of Solitude; there's a monumental hunk of rock in Georgia that could give even Krypton a run for its money: Stone Mountain is the world's largest exposed granite monadnock, spreading across 583 acres with only one-third of its mass visible above ground, and boasting a view of over forty miles from its summit on a clear day.
Source => stonemountainguide.com

4. Georgia's Granite Chuck Norris

In a rock-solid performance spanning 300 million years, Stone Mountain has been smashing granite records and taking down empires like a geological Chuck Norris: This 825-feet high behemoth in Georgia proudly flaunts massive carvings of Confederate leaders, making it one of the largest exposed granite masterpieces on Earth and a real showstopper for tourists.
Source => epd.georgia.gov

5. Gravity-Defying Pluton

If Stone Mountain could talk, it might just say, "I didn't quite get the memo on this whole 'gravity' thing": This massive granitic pluton in Georgia stands 780 feet tall and can be seen from miles away, reaching its peak at 1683 feet above sea-level. Once buried deep beneath miles of overburden, Stone Mountain's impressive exposure is due to a tag-team effort by erosion and geological uplift.
Source => creationresearch.org

6. Stone-Faced Cinema Extravaganza

Behold, the stone-faced cinema extraordinaire: Stone Mountain Park's Lasershow Spectacular has evolved since 1983 to become the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision, using cutting-edge digital video projection technology for awe-inspiring 3D-like effects sans fancy goggles, making the mountain come to life in ways like morphing into a volcano and shooting frozen crystals from its surface, captivating over a million visitors annually.
Source => ajc.com

7. Mount Rushmore's Guest of Honor

If Mount Rushmore threw a party, the guest of honor would be Stone Mountain: This massive Georgian carving features the lovely line-up of President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, and is the world's largest high relief sculpture. Spanning over three acres, it took more than 50 years and three talented sculptors to give life to this artistic marvel. At its deepest point—Lee's elbow—the carving delves 12 feet into the mountain's surface, making sure that this monumental masterpiece remains deeply etched in history.
Source => stonemountainpark.com

8. Mountaineering Face-Off

In a rock and roll battle between Stone Mountain and Mount Rushmore, you might assume the Confederate 'statue-eque' quartet would outsell Honest Abe and the Founding Fathers in terms of sheer size. However, reality plays a different tune: Though Stone Mountain's carving spans around 300 feet wide and 190 feet high, the carved area measures just 160 feet wide and 76 feet high, while Rushmore boasts a 60-foot-tall George Washington. Don't let rumors fool you—Mountaineering has never been more exhilarating!
Source => stonemountainguide.com

9. Mountainous Mona Lisa

Feeling chiseled and graffitied like a modern-day Mona Lisa, Stone Mountain in Georgia takes body art to new heights: This mountain sports the largest bas-relief artwork on Earth, featuring Confederate trailblazers Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. Completed in 1972, the carving soars 90 feet tall, 190 feet wide, and 42 feet deep, sitting pretty at 400 feet above ground level.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Largest Confederate Monument

Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson walk into a bar – or rather, a mountainside: Stone Mountain, Georgia, boasts the largest Confederate monument in the world, which took over 60 years to complete, beginning in 1910 and finally wrapping up in 1972. The colossal mountain carving today serves as a notable reminder of America's intricate and controversial history.
Source => atlantahistorycenter.com

11. Carving Games: Hold My Chisel

When you thought Mount Rushmore already had a head start in the carving game, Stone Mountain says, "Hold my chisel": Boasting the world's largest Confederate monument, this grand geological formation stars the trio of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson sculpted across its face. Despite the revolving door of sculpting stars like Gutzon Borglum and Augustus Lukeman, it was Walter Hancock who finally finished the job, adding stone-cold swag to this iconic rocky landmark.
Source => atlantahistorycenter.com

12. Stone Horseback Riding Reunion

Ever think about inviting Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis to the world's largest stone horseback riding reunion? Neither did Georgia, but they got one anyway: Completed in 1972, Stone Mountain boasts a 90-feet-tall carving of the three Confederate figures, none of whom were Georgians or fought any battles there. But brush off the debate and saddle up, because this mammoth monument still lures in a staggering 3 million visitors each year.
Source => npr.org

13. The Klan and the Mountain

If your idea of a good time involves watching mountains rise from the Mississippi River, then gather 'round the campfire, we've got some etched-in-stone gossip for you: Stone Mountain, known for its massive bas-relief of Confederacy leaders Lee, Jackson, and Davis, was initially designed to feature the Ku Klux Klan! Though funds fell short, the mountain's rocky relationship with the Klan remains a hidden part of history.
Source => kqed.org