A historic Georgia monument that some people have called satanic was heavily damaged by an explosion early Wednesday, July 6, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
A portion of the Georgia Guidestones in Elberton was reduced to rubble when investigators said group of people “detonated an explosive device” around 4 a.m. on Wednesday. No injuries were reported, and residents told local outlets they heard an explosion around that time.
The blast destroyed a large part of the 19-foot structure, which has been dubbed “America’s Stonehenge.” Chris Kubas, Executive VP of the Elberton Granite Association, pointed to drone footage showing one of monument’s panels broken to pieces on the ground, WAGA reported.
“I’m sad not just for Elberton and Elbert County, I’m sad for the United States and the world,” Kubas told the news station. “These were a tourist attraction, and it was not uncommon for people around the world to be up here at any given time.”
The site has been a target for vandals in the past, he added.
The roadside attraction, located off state Highway 77, “displays a 10-part message espousing the conservation of mankind and future generations” in multiple languages, according to ExploreGeorgia.org
“The Guidestones also serve as an astronomical calendar, and every day at noon the sun shines through a narrow hole in the structure and illuminates the day’s date on an engraving,” according to the website.
The landmark’s origins largely remain a mystery, though it’s believed the granite monolith was commissioned in 1979 by a man calling himself C.R. Christian, per the New Georgia Encyclopedia. The Guidestones were unveiled on March 22, 1980.
The historic monument has also been a source of controversy, officials said. Earlier this year, former Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor drafted an executive order calling for the Guidestones to be destroyed, decrying them as symbols of Satan, The Daily Beast reported.
“The New World Order is here, and they told us it was coming,” Taylor said in a campaign ad showing her standing in front of the tablets. “This is a battle far greater than what we see in the natural. It’s a war between good and evil.”
The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation into Wednesday’s vandalism, the GBI said.
Elbert County is about 30 miles northeast of downtown Athens.
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