Commercial and Residential Locksmiths in Mountain Park

DeKalb County, GA — Members of DeKalb County’s all-Democratic Legislative delegation are seeking to remove Stone Mountain’s designation as a Confederate memorial.

“State Representatives Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) and Omari Crawford (D-Decatur) have introduced House Bill 794, a bill which would remove the official designation of Stone Mountain Park in its entirety as a Confederate Memorial and removes the word ‘Memorial’ from the park’s official title,” a press release from the legislators said. “HB 794 is co-sponsored by every member of the DeKalb delegation.”

The delegation said it is frustrated by the inaction of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which oversees the park. SMMA is supposed to be working to contextualize the giant Confederate carving at the park, but as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, the rollout of those changes has been slow.

“We have been waiting too long for action by the Stone Mountain Memorial [Association] to act on needed changes to the false history of the park and the carving,” said Rep. Mitchell in the press release. “We do not understand the delay and wish to set forth the changes that we see as necessary.”

Rep. Mitchell’s district includes Stone Mountain Park.

“I am a native of Georgia and DeKalb County, and Stone Mountain has been a part of all the stages of my life,” Rep. Oliver said in the press release. “The park is an important asset for our county and state and enjoys enormous popularity and use. As such, the park needs to change its statutory history of honoring the Confederacy and adherence to a ‘lost cause.’ This legislation is consistent with recommendations from other groups and historians who wish to set forth a more accurate history of the Stone Mountain Park and its carving.”

The legislation would rename the governing board from the Stone Mountain Memorial Association to the Stone Mountain Park Association. It would also remove the requirement for the association to stock and sell Confederate memorabilia, as well as the requirement to preserve the carvings of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on Stone Mountain.

“I’m a proud product of DeKalb County, and Stone Mountain was integral to my development,” Crawford said in the press release. “The diversity of DeKalb County is an under-amplified gem in the great state of Georgia. Our ability to work together, despite of our diversity, is what makes DeKalb County unique. Honoring any Confederate history in an area with so much diversity is inconsistent with DeKalb County’s present-day values. It is time that our park reflects our evolution.”

Co-sponsors of the legislation are: Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Becky Evans (D-Atlanta), Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta), Imani Barnes (D-Tucker), Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia), Saira Draper (D-Atlanta), Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta), Long Tran (D-Dunwoody) and Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers).

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The towering gray dome known as Stone Mountain rises above the surrounding Georgia forests. Visible in many locations around Atlanta, the mountain stands as an iconic presence to the city. If you make it to the top of the mountain, either by gondola ride or hiking, you are rewarded with stunning views of the Atlanta skyline. On a clear day, you can even see the North Georgia Mountains 60 miles away.

Spanning over 3,200 acres, and exposing 7.5 billion cubic feet of rock, Georgia’s Stone Mountain is the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. Stone Mountain was formed roughly 300 million years ago when a bubble of magma spewed from beneath the Earth’s crust and hardened over time.

As the magma solidified, it transformed into the large granite piece known as Stone Mountain. The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains were formed around the same time.

What is Stone Mountain in Georgia Comprised of?

Stone Mountain is mainly granite, an igneous rock formed from magma. However, it’s also made of quartz monzonite and granodiorite. From a distance, the mountain appears to be a dull gray, but up close, the striking details on the ancient rocks can be seen. Other rocks and minerals found in the area include quartz, microcline, and muscovite.

History of Stone Mountain

The dome formed when magma bubbled up from the core of the Earth to the surface and began to cool during the Carboniferous period. As it cooled, it created the monadnock known as Stone Mountain. A monadnock is a small mountain or rock hill that rose abruptly and withstood erosion, while the surrounding landscape has flattened over time. Only about one-third of the mountain is visible, while the rest of the granite piece remains underground.

In 1958, Georgia purchased Stone Mountain as a memorial to the Confederacy. The state opened Stone Mountain Park on April 14, 1965. In 1972, a carving was etched into the side of the mountain commemorating Confederate generals, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, and Thomas Jonathon “Stonewall” Jackson.

The carving today remains a controversial feature of Stone Mountain and stands in contrast to the fact that Georgia removed the Confederate flag from the State of Georgia flag in 2001. Despite the controversy and questions surrounding the carving, Stone Mountain State Park remains a popular tourist destination.

How to Reach the Top of Stone Mountain

The top of Stone Mountain rises 1,686 feet above sea level. There are two ways to reach the summit and experience the majestic views of the surrounding lush landscape.

You can either hike up the mountain via a 1.3-mile trail that takes you to the top. The hike provides an up close and personal view of the rock formations, rock pools, and surrounding forests as you ascend to the top.

The second way to reach the summit is to take the Summit Skyride, a high-speed Swiss cable car that transports people 825 feet above the ground.

Where is Stone Mountain Located on a Map?

Stone Mountain is just 20 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta on I-20 E. The city of Lithonia is south of Stone Mountain – while Norcross and Lawrenceville are north of the park. The park and surrounding attractions are popular destinations for locals and tourists alike.

What Wildlife Lives Around Stone Mountain?

With its many hiking trails and natural areas, Stone Mountain State Park offers visitors many opportunities to view the diverse wildlife in the area. The lakes, streams, woodlands, and fields provide habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals.

The area is a popular spot for bird watchers, and some of the many species you may encounter include:

It is possible to spot an American black bear in the mountains of Georgia. Other animals found in the area include frogs and salamanders living near the many streams on the mountain. Many species of snakes live in the area, including the eastern rat snake and venomous copperhead. Swimming in the mountain streams and lakes are fish, such as rainbow trout and catfish.

Other animals making their home around Stone Mountain include:

Tiny Shrimp Thrive on the Mountaintop

Amazingly, two species of tiny shrimp thrive on the top of Stone Mountain. During the rainy season, rock pools form in the many geological formations found on the mountain. In these pools swim two species of freshwater crustaceans, clam shrimp and fairy shrimp.

Although small, the shrimp are visible to the naked eye. Just look for something that looks like a small piece of wriggling brown sand. The shrimp lay eggs in the soil, which lay dormant until they hatch when the rains come and the rock pools form.

Atlanta History Center explores the controversial history of the Stone Mountain carving through a documentary film and online resources.

The mountain is engraved with a sculpture of well-known people from the Confederacy: Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate states, and generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Many Georgians recognize the Stone Mountain carving, but few know the full story of its origin.

The effort to create a Confederate monument on Stone Mountain began in the 1910s. Yet, the monument was only completed in 1972. Spanning multiple efforts across more than 50 years, the carving’s history is full of twists and turns.

Today, the mountain and surrounding park remain a large tourist and recreational attraction featuring hiking trails, restaurants, campgrounds, a museum, and occasionally a laser show with the carving as the backdrop.

Atlanta History Center staff have been engaged with the history of the Stone Mountain carving for many years. Over the past year, the institution worked with experts and those closest to the issue to explore the history of the Stone Mountain carving from various perspectives for a documentary. The result of this work is Monument, a documentary film that delves into the controversial history of Stone Mountain, including the origin of the carving and the complicated relationships between historical events and key players who established the monument.

Primary Content

Credit: Lynsey Weatherspoon / Georgia Recorder

Events planned for Confederate Memorial Day at Georgia’s Stone Mountain are again drawing criticism and the prospect of opposing demonstrators at the state-owned park on Saturday.

Several groups are calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to cancel the event.

Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP, said that changes at the park, which is designated by state law as a Confederate memorial, aren’t happening quickly enough.

“They’ve been talking about reimagining Stone Mountain and the only thing they did is change the logo,” Griggs said. “They haven’t removed the Confederate flags from the base of the mountain. They have done nothing.”

The Sons of Confederate Veterans will lead the event on Saturday, which is scheduled to feature keynote speaker John Weaver.

Weaver is a member of the Council of Conservative Citizens, an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group.

Two years ago, Kemp appointed Athens pastor Abraham Mosley to be the first Black person to chair the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, the board that oversees the park.

Mosley said that the Confederate flags can’t be removed except by state law.

“There was a time in history when things went on, and I wish they hadn’t went on, but it’s history,” Mosley said. “And I think for people to come to honor their ancestors and what have you, I have no problem with it.”

In the recent past, events that drew opposing demonstrators to the park and the nearby city of Stone Mountain have gone smoothly, while others have ended in fist fights and park closures.

The Stone Mountain Action Coalition, one of the groups calling for the event’s cancellation, cited public safety concerns in a statement released this week.

The statement said that “While the study of the Civil War is legitimate, a Lost Cause shrine glamorizing the Confederacy that has no historical connection to the Civil War is a clear and dangerous threat to our American democracy.”

Confederate symbols have been a flashpoint in Georgia for decades.

Wednesday marks the 20th anniversary of the day when the Georgia legislature voted to redesign the state flag to exclude the Confederate battle emblem.

Tags: Stone Mountain Georgia Georgia Atlanta Savannah Macon AtlantaNewsFeed GeorgiaNewsFeed

Secondary Content

State Representatives Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) and Omari Crawford (D-Decatur) have introduced House Bill 794, a bill which would remove the official designation of Stone Mountain Park in its entirety as a Confederate Memorial and removes the word “Memorial” from the park’s official title. HB 794 is co-sponsored by every member of the DeKalb delegation.

“We have been waiting too long for action by the Stone Mountain Memorial Authority to act on needed changes to the false history of the park and the carving,” said Rep. Mitchell, whose district includes the park. “We do not understand the delay and wish to set forth the changes that we see as necessary.”

“I am a native of Georgia and DeKalb County, and Stone Mountain has been a part of all the stages of my life,” said Rep. Oliver. “The park is an important asset for our county and state and enjoys enormous popularity and use. As such, the park needs to change its statutory history of honoring the Confederacy and adherence to a ‘lost cause.’ This legislation is consistent with recommendations from other groups and historians who wish to set forth a more accurate history of the Stone Mountain Park and its carving.”

This legislation would rename this recreational area’s oversight body from the “Stone Mountain Memorial Association” to the “Stone Mountain Park Association.” HB 794 would also remove the requirement for the association to stock and sell Confederate memorabilia. The bill would also remove the requirement to preserve the carvings of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on Stone Mountain.

“I’m a proud product of DeKalb County, and Stone Mountain was integral to my development,” said Rep. Crawford. “The diversity of DeKalb County is an under-amplified gem in the great state of Georgia. Our ability to work together, despite of our diversity, is what makes DeKalb County unique. Honoring any Confederate history in an area with so much diversity is inconsistent with DeKalb County’s present-day values. It is time that our park reflects our evolution.”

The following state legislators have co-sponsored this legislation: Dar’shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain), Becky Evans (D-Atlanta), Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta), Imani Barnes (D-Tucker), Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia), Saira Draper (D-Atlanta), Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta), Long Tran (D-Dunwoody) and Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers).

Representative Billy Mitchell represents the citizens of District 88, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as Chairman of the House Minority Caucus. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and on the Banks & Banking, Ethics, Health and Regulated Industries committees.

Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 82, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as the Secretary of the Public Health Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and the Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, Juvenile Justice and the Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.

Representative Omari Crawford represents the citizens of District 84, which includes portions of DeKalb County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Intragovernmental Coordination and Judiciary committees.

legis.ga.gov