Mysterious Georgia granite monument bombed, destroyed after GOP candidate called it 'Satanic'
The Georgia Guidestones, a mystery-shrouded Stonehenge-like granite monument and roadside attraction in rural east Georgia, was destroyed Wednesday after an early morning blast reduced one of its four 19-foot-high granite panels to rubble. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the panel was damaged by an explosive device, and the entire monument was later demolished "for safety reasons" as investigators searched for clues to the vandal.
The GBI released surveillance footage showing the 4 a.m. explosion and a silver sedan driving away.
The Guidestones, outside Elberton, had attracted visitors but also conspiracy theorists since an anonymous patron, using the pseudonym R.C. Christian, paid for its construction in 1980. The four panels were inscribed with instructions for "the conservation of mankind" in 10 parts and eight languages, and the monument also served as a sundial and astronomical calendar.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The inscriptions urge humanity to live harmoniously, rule fairly, and protect the environment," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "But further instructions to limit the world population to 500 million and establish a world court have attracted criticism from fringe groups who fear the rise of a one world government or other baseless conspiracies."
Interest in the monument grew after Kandiss Taylor, a Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate, released a campaign ad in May pledging to destroy the Guidestones, which she linked to "the Satanic Regime," an apparent QAnon reference. Taylor, who came in third in the May GOP primary, tweeted Wednesday that God "can do ANYTHING He wants to do," including "striking down the Satanic Guidestones."
The destruction of the Guidestones shows that conspiracy theories "do and can have a real-world impact," Katie McCarthy, a researcher at the Anti-Defamation League, told The Associated Press. "We've seen this with QAnon and multiple other conspiracy theories, that these ideas can lead somebody to try to take action in furtherance of these beliefs." Right-wing personalities like Alex Jones had mentioned the Guidestones in years past, she added, but "they sort of came back onto the public's radar" because of Taylor.
Lee Vaughn, chairman of the Elbert County Board of Commissioners, agreed that Taylor's ad brought a lot of unwanted controversy, including from a pastor who came to a commission meeting from a neighboring county last month and talked for 20 minutes about the "evil" monument and why it should be removed. "Just thank goodness nobody was hurt," Vaughn told the Journal-Constitution.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Unpasteurised milk and the American right
Under the radar Former darling of health-conscious liberal foodies is now a 'conservative culture war signal': a sign of mistrust in experts
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Government shutdown looming? Blame the border
Talking Points Democrats and Republicans say funding for immigration enforcement is the budget battle's latest sticking point. That's about all they agree on.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Conservatives have not limited their attack on reproductive rights to the US'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Singer Cassie accuses music mogul Diddy of decade of rape and abuse
Speed Read Rapper denies claims in lawsuit describing him as a 'serial domestic abuser'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Bad Bunny joins in criticism of AI music
Speed Read Concern growing in music industry over generative learning, unauthorised impersonations and copyright issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published