Long Description:
Confederate Memorial Carving At Stone Mountain Park-Atlanta, Ga
The largest high relief sculpture in the world, the Confederate
Memorial Carving, depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil
War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and
Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The entire carved surface measures
three-acres, larger than a football field. The carving of the three
men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and
is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the
carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain's
surface.
In 1912 the carving existed only in the imagination of Mrs. C.
Helen Plane, charter member of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy (UDC). The Venable family, owners of the mountain,
deeded the north face of the mountain to the UDC in 1916. The UDC
was given 12 years to complete a sizable Civil War monument.
Three sculptors worked on the carving during its creation. Gutzon
Borglum was hired in 1915 as the carving consultant, and in 1916 he
was appointed carving sculptor by the Stone Mountain Monumental
Association. Borglum envisioned a carving with seven central
figures accompanied by "an army of thousands." He was not able to
begin work on the carving until 1923 due to funding problems and
World War I.
After blasting away large portions of the mountain with dynamite,
Borglum was able to complete the head of Lee on January 19, 1924.
In 1925 a dispute arose between Borglum and the managing
association. As a result of the conflict, Borglum left, taking all
of his sketches and models with him. Borglum went on to carve the
famous Mount Rushmore sculpture in South Dakota.
Augustus Lukeman, the second sculptor, resumed work on the project
in 1925. Lukeman's carving included the three central figures of
the Confederacy on horseback. He removed Borglum's work from the
mountain and diligently worked with pneumatic drills, but by 1928
(the original deadline) only Lee's head was complete and funds were
depleted. The Venable family reclaimed their property, and the
massive granite mountain remained untouched for 36 years.
In 1958 the state of Georgia purchased the mountain and the
surrounding land. The Georgia General Assembly created the Stone
Mountain Memorial Association. In 1960 the Stone Mountain
Confederate Memorial Advisory Committee was comprised of six
internationally known figures in the world of art. A competition
was held, and nine world-renowned sculptors submitted designs for a
new sculpture. In 1963, based upon recommendations by the Advisory
Committee, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association chose Walker
Kirkland Hancock of Gloucester, Massachusetts to complete the
carving. Work resumed in 1964, and a new technique utilizing
thermo-jet torches was used to carve away the granite. Chief carver
Roy Faulkner, a marine veteran with a talent for using the new
thermo-jet torch, was able to remove tons of stone in one day. For
over eight years Park guests could see and hear the workmen and
their jet torches. The figures were completed with the detail of a
fine painting. Eyebrows, fingers, buckles and even strands of hair
were fine-carved with a small thermo-jet torch. The carving is
actually much larger than it appears from Stone Mountain Park's
attractions. Workers could easily stand on a horse's ear or inside
a horse's mouth to escape a sudden rain shower. A dedication
ceremony for the Confederate Memorial Carving was held on May 9,
1970. Finishing touches to the masterpiece were completed in 1972.