The Georgia Guidestones monument, often referred to as “America’s Stonehenge” by the state, was the target of an explosion on Wednesday. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the early-morning explosion in northern Elbert County “destroyed a large portion of the structure.” The bureau released a statement saying, “The preliminary information indicates that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th.” Fox5 Atlanta reports that the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office is one of the law enforcement organizations looking into the incident, and a bomb squad has been dispatched to the area.
Georgia’s tourism website states the monument, “Known as America’s Stonehenge, this 19-foot-high monument displays a 10-part message espousing the conservation of mankind and future generations in 12 languages.” The website explains, “The Guidestones also serve as an astronomical calendar, and every day at noon the sun shines through a narrow hole in the structure and illuminates the day’s date on an engraving.” Additionally, the site notes that “The names of four ancient languages are inscribed on the sides near the top: Babylonian cuneiform, Classical Greek, Sanskrit, and Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The Guidestones are mysterious in origin, for no one knows the identity of a group of sponsors who provided its specifications.”
The stones are located near the South Carolina state line, roughly 7 miles north of Elberton. One of the biggest local industries is granite quarrying. During Georgia’s May 24 gubernatorial primary, the roadside monument attracted attention when third-place Republican candidate Kandiss Taylor declared the Guidestones to be demonic and made their destruction a part of her campaign.
