Elbert County, a rural area in the state of Georgia, is the last place where you would expect to find something magnificent and mysterious. Yet, the monoliths dubbed as the “American Stonehenge” would prove you otherwise. The five granite slabs, each weighing over 20 tons, are placed to form a star pattern. On top of the structure, there lies a capstone. Very little is known about the monoliths, but one thing is certain, they were put there to guide humanity in the aftermath of an apocalypse. The stone blocks are inscribed with a total of ten guidelines written in eight different languages. The structure is aptly named the “Georgia Guidestones.”

No one knows who commissioned the monument or how it was paid for, but the mystery surrounding it is nothing short of fascinating.

As far as the story goes, a man using the pseudonym “R.C. Christian” contacted the Elberton Granite Finishing Company in 1979 and tasked them with building a monument. He explained that the structure would serve as a clock, calendar, and compass, and it should be sturdy enough to withstand any catastrophic event. He provided a scale model and ten pages filled with specifications. Assuming that the man was crazy, the company gave him an estimate that was several times higher than any project they had ever undertaken. They claimed that the construction would require special tools and consultants.

Surprisingly, Christian accepted their quote and mentioned that the group he represented had been planning this for over 20 years, however, they wanted to remain anonymous. He specifically told the company never to disclose his identity or that of the group he was representing. As per the contract, the company was legally obligated to destroy all plans and withhold all information pertaining to the construction of the monument.

The construction was finally finished in 1980, and the Guidestones were erected on a five-acre, barren field, approximately 90 miles east of Atlanta. Christian had purchased the land from Wayne Mullinex, a farm owner who was given a lifetime right to graze cattle on the site. The ownership of the Guidestones and the land were later transferred to Elbert County.

The Georgia Guidestones stand at approximately 750 feet above sea level. One slab is placed in the middle, while four others are arranged around it. The stones are inscribed with ten guidelines in eight languages.

The monument is strategically arranged with one slab at the center and four others surrounding it, and a capstone is placed on top. The five slabs are also aligned astronomically. To the west of the monument, you will find a stone tablet that details the purpose and history of the Guidestones. The structure is 19 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 237,746 pounds. The enigmatic monument, nicknamed the “American Stonehenge,” provides guidelines and instructions on rebuilding civilization in the aftermath of an apocalypse.

The guidelines are written in eight languages: English, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Swahili, and Spanish. You can also see the instructions written in extinct languages such as Egyptian hieroglyphs and ancient Greek. The ten guidelines are as follows:

“Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.”

“Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.”
“Unite humanity with a living new language.”
“Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.”
“Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.”
“Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.”
“Avoid petty laws and useless officials.”
“Balance personal rights with social duties.”
“Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite.”
“Be not a cancer on the earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.”

These novel ideas on rebuilding civilization and creating a better world have baffled many. Some have claimed the guidelines to be utopian or perfect, while others have called them quirky or downright satanic!

The Georgia Guidestones were met with controversies and criticisms mainly because of the message they deliver. Though some of the guidelines are laudable and noble, others are quite problematic. For example, we could all benefit from fair laws and a more united society. However, to maintain a population of 500,000,000 as described in the Guidestones, we would have to eliminate over 90% of Earth’s population.

As difficult as it is to admit, our planet is extremely overpopulated, and in the last five decades, Earth’s population has nearly doubled. This has started to strain resources, and if the population continues to rise, the future will be bleak.

The Georgia Guidestones were designed to bring about the “age of reason.” However, it attracted negative attention even before it was finished. Some people called it the Devil’s work, while others called it the work of an occult movement. The Elberton Granite Finishing Company was even asked to stop the construction of the monument.

Many have compared the first two guidelines to Nazi beliefs. However, if an apocalypse takes place, the population is likely to be greatly reduced. In that case, taking measures to maintain a healthy balance would not be such a bad idea.

The astronomical features of the Guidestones are also noteworthy. The monument serves as a clock, compass, and a calendar.

The Georgia Guidestones have one of the most complex astronomical features. In fact, the Elberton Granite Finishing Company had to hire an astronomer to help them maintain accuracy. The orientation of the four outer stones denotes the lunar declination cycle, which occurs every 18.6 years. The center column has an angular hole, through which you can see the North Star. A slot is carved through the center pillar, and it aligns perfectly with the Sun’s equinoxes and solstices. Every day at noon, sun rays pass through a 22 mm aperture, which is placed in the capstone. When light shines on the center stone, it indicates the day of the year.

Over the years, the Georgia Guidestones have been subjected to vandalism and defacements. In 2008, graffiti was painted on the stones and the slogan “Death to the new world order” was written on them. In 2014, Elbert County contacted the FBI after the Guidestones were vandalized with the words “I Am Isis, goddess of love”.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)