Stone Mountain Carving

Stone Mountain Carving in Stone Mountain, Georgia was something started by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Helen Plane felt it was necessary to preserve the memory of the Confederacy Veterans. The first convention took place in Atlanta, Georgia where it was discussed. It was supported all through Georgia and so carving on Stone Mountain began.

Plane decided since much of Atlanta and other areas of Georgia were destroyed in the war that she would use the largest piece of exposed granite to remember those who died in the war. The largest piece in the world is Stone Mountain. It would take years for the contracted work to start. In fact it wasn't until 1915 that artist Gutzon Borglum would begin the carving.

Unfortunately, things did not go smoothly as Borglum and Plane did not agree so he left in 1924. There were also periods of economic issues with raising the money to get the carving commissioned. Eventually however, the Stone Mountain Carving was finished. The carving shows Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis as three of the four men on horseback. The second group was never added to the carving due to financial issues.